Omar Bennett
The U.S. Constitution outlines the powers of Congress and enumerates them in detail. The House of Representatives, one of Congress's two chambers, makes and passes federal laws, with representatives introducing bills and resolutions, offering amendments, and serving on committees. The Constitution grants Congress the power to declare war, raise and support armies, and regulate commerce, among other powers. It also empowers the House of Representatives to impeach executive or judicial officials for Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors.
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What You'll Learn
Congressional powers
The US Constitution grants Congress significant powers in national defence, including the exclusive power to declare war, raise and maintain armed forces, and make rules for the military. However, critics argue that the executive branch, particularly the President, has increasingly usurped Congress's power to declare war. Congress also has the power to raise and collect taxes, duties, imposts, and excises to fund the country's debts and provide for its common defence and general welfare. This "power of the purse" is one of Congress's primary checks on the executive branch.
Congress can also establish post offices and post roads, issue patents and copyrights, and fix standards of weights and measures. It has the power to regulate commerce with foreign nations, Indian tribes, and among the states. Additionally, Congress can establish tribunals and courts inferior to the Supreme Court, define and punish piracies and felonies committed on the high seas, and make laws necessary for executing the powers vested in the Constitution.
The Constitution also grants Congress the power to impeach and remove the President, federal judges, and other federal officials for "treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanours". This power of removal is concentrated in the House of Representatives. However, the Senate has the sole power to try all impeachments, and a two-thirds majority is required for conviction.
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Congressional officials' duties
The U.S. Constitution enumerates the powers of Congress in detail. The Constitution also grants congressional powers, which have been confirmed by constitutional amendments. The 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments gave Congress the authority to enforce the rights of African Americans, including voting rights and equal protection under the law.
Congress has the power to declare war, raise and support armies, and provide for the calling and disciplining of the militia. Congress can also establish post offices and roads, issue patents and copyrights, and fix standards of weights and measures.
Congress has the exclusive power of removal, allowing impeachment and removal of the president, federal judges, and other federal officials. The House of Representatives, led by the speaker, has a role in filling a vacancy in the office of the vice president.
Congressional officials have various duties, including legislative, administrative, and communication roles. They introduce bills and resolutions, offer amendments, and serve on committees. They also have oversight responsibilities to monitor agencies, programs, and activities within their jurisdictions.
Congressional staff members assist congressional officials during their term in office. The chief of staff or administrative assistant is in charge of overall office operations, while legislative directors monitor the legislative schedule and make recommendations. Communications directors build and maintain open lines of communication between officials, constituents, and the public. Caseworkers help constituents with requests and resolve problems involving federal agencies.
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Congressional impeachment power
The US Constitution grants Congress the authority to impeach and remove the President, vice president, and all civil officers of the United States. The House of Representatives has the sole power of impeachment, while the Senate has the sole power to try impeachments. This congressional power is a fundamental component of the system of checks and balances.
The impeachment process involves the House of Representatives charging an official of the federal government by approving articles of impeachment through a simple majority vote. The House of Representatives acts as the prosecutor in impeachment proceedings. Once the articles of impeachment are approved, they are sent to the Senate, which sits as a High Court of Impeachment. The Senate considers the evidence, hears witnesses, and votes to acquit or convict the impeached official. A two-thirds vote of the Senate is required to convict, and the penalty for an impeached official upon conviction is removal from office. The impeached official may also be barred from holding public office in the future.
The definition of impeachable offenses includes "treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors." However, the exact scope of "high crimes and misdemeanors" has been subject to debate and interpretation over time.
It is important to note that impeachment proceedings are remedial rather than punitive. This means that a convicted official may still be subject to criminal or civil trial, prosecution, and conviction under the law. Additionally, the President of the United States cannot grant a pardon in cases of impeachment.
The congressional impeachment power is an important check on the Executive and Judicial Branches, allowing Congress to hold government officials accountable for violations of the law and abuses of power.
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Congressional legislative powers
Article I of the US Constitution establishes the Legislative Branch of the federal government. Section 1, the Legislative Vesting Clause, provides that all federal legislative powers are vested in the Congress. This means that Congress is the only part of the government that can make new laws or change existing laws.
The Constitution enumerates the powers of Congress in detail. Congress can establish post offices and post roads, issue patents and copyrights, fix standards of weights and measures, establish Courts inferior to the Supreme Court, and make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into Execution the foregoing Powers, and all other Powers vested by this Constitution in the Government of the United States, or in any Department or Officer thereof.
Section 8 of Article I outlines Congress's specific legislative authorities, including the power to tax and spend, to borrow money, to regulate interstate commerce, to establish uniform rules on naturalization and bankruptcy, to coin money, to punish counterfeiters, to regulate intellectual property, to declare war, to raise and support armies, to govern enclaves, and to make other laws necessary and proper for executing these enumerated powers.
Congress also has the exclusive power of removal, allowing impeachment and removal of the president, federal judges, and other federal officers. The House of Representatives has no formal role in the ratification of treaties or the appointment of federal officials, except in filling a vacancy in the office of the vice president. In such a case, a majority vote in each House is required to confirm a president's nomination of a vice president.
Congress also holds the sole power to declare war. The Thirteenth (1865), Fourteenth (1868), and Fifteenth Amendments (1870) gave Congress authority to enact legislation to enforce the rights of African Americans, including voting rights, due process, and equal protection under the law.
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Congressional role in elections
The Constitution enumerates the powers of Congress in detail. The Constitution also grants or confirms congressional powers through constitutional amendments. The US Constitution and federal law place certain presidential election responsibilities on state executives and the electors for President and Vice President.
The Constitution regulates presidential elections in three ways. First, it addresses how and when voters choose electors on Election Day. Second, it details what those electors do on Elector Balloting Day. Electors meet in their respective states and vote by ballot for President and Vice-President, and they must not be inhabitants of the same state. Third, it requires Congress to count the electors' votes on Electoral Count Day. Congress initially adopted electoral count rules for each presidential election by passing a resolution. The Constitution empowers Congress to decide how Electoral Count Day unfolds in practice. Specifically, Article I, Section 5, Clause 2 allows lawmakers to determine the rules that regulate their proceedings, including how they count states' electoral votes and the process for adjudicating disputes over those votes.
Congress has the exclusive power of removal, allowing impeachment and removal of the president, federal judges, and other federal officers. Congress also has implied powers deriving from the Constitution's Necessary and Proper Clause, which permits Congress to make all laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into Execution the foregoing Powers, and all other Powers vested by this Constitution in the Government of the United States, or in any Department or Officer thereof. The House of Representatives has no formal role in either the ratification of treaties or the appointment of federal officials, except in filling a vacancy in the office of the vice president.
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Frequently asked questions
The U.S. Constitution mentions the House of Representatives, also referred to as Congress, and the Senate.
The House of Representatives makes and passes federal laws. Each representative introduces bills and resolutions, offers amendments, and serves on committees.
The Senate is the other chamber of Congress and part of the federal government's legislative branch.
Congress has the power to impeach and remove the president, federal judges, and other federal officers. Congress can also establish post offices and post roads, issue patents and copyrights, and fix standards of weights and measures.
