1. Write your journal
2. We took notes today. Here they are:
• Congress
The Legislative Branch
• The House of Representatives and the Senate
• 435 members of the House of Representatives- Based on population of the state.
• 100 members of the Senate- Two from each state.
• Members of Congress are legislators, committee members, and servant to constituents.
• Both members of the House and the Senate are elected by citizens of their states. Elections are held on the Tuesday after the first Monday in November of each even-numbered years.
• Where does Congress get its Power?
• Article I, Section 8, of the US Constitution states the expressed powers of the Congress.
• The implied powers doctrine, upheld in McCulloch v. Maryland, gives Congress the power to do anything reasonably related to carrying out the expressed powers.
• The “Necessary and Proper Clause” also known as the “elastic clause” allows Congress to do things not explicitly expressed in the Constitution.
• Congressional Diversity (or lack thereof)
• Our Representatives
• Congressional Powers
• Collect taxes, duties, and excises.
• Borrow money
• Coin Money
• Punish Counterfeiters
• Establish post offices and post roads.
• Punish pirates
• Create courts inferior to the Supreme Court
• Declare War
• Raise and support armies.
• Propose constitutional amendments
• Impeach
• Investigate
• Congress also makes laws
• Bills, or proposed laws, must be approved by a majority of the Senate and the House
• The lawmaking function of Congress is central to democracy because it is the means by which the public will become public policy.
• Most bills, or measures, are introduced in committees.
• Screening bills for floor consideration is a major duty of committee members.
• Senate Committees
• House Committees
• Congress Hodgepodge
• Congress meets for a session
• All treaties must be approved by 2/3 vote of the Senate
• Congress shares foreign relations power with the President
• The House of Representatives is given the power to impeach
• The purpose of a filibuster is to prevent action on a bill
• Eminent Domain is the inherent power to take public property for private use.
