I. The Legislative Branch a. What constitutional powers are delegated to Congress? i. Lay and collect taxes, duties, imposts, and exercises to pay for debts and provide defense and welfare to the U.S. ii. Borrow money on the credit of the U.S. iii. Regulate commerce with foreign nations and among states. iv. Establish laws on the subject of bankruptcies throughout the U.S. v. To coin money and regulate its value. vi. Fix the Standard of Weights and Measures. vii. Establish post offices viii. To promote the Progress of Science and useful Arts. ix. Define and punish Piracies, felonies, and offences against the Law of Nations. x. Declare War, grant letters of marque and reprisal, and make rules concerning the captures made. xi. Maintain a navy and support the armies. xii. To make the rules for regulating the naval forces. xiii. Power to impeach the president xiv. Prohibit the Supreme Court from adjusting a case. b. What are the major issues that Congress has been debating over the past 6-12 months? Jobs and the economy? Gun control? Immigration Reform? Healthcare reform? College costs and student loan rates? Did congress pass any major legislation in these areas? i. Unemployment benefit: On December 28, 2013, the unemployment insurance program expired, which cut off benefits for 1.3 million unemployed Americans. In January, Senate was debating over whether those benefits should be extended for another three months. A total of 12 federal bills were proposed this year. The
The book How Congress Works, by Lee H. Hamilton, tells us a brief summary of the interworking’s of congress. The book begins to convey the role of congress in chapter one, the author begins with congresses important roles in our democracy. Which are passing budgets, manage conflicts that arise, debate issues facing the country and most importantly to act within the system of checks and balances. In our government neither congress nor president is supreme, most of the authority is with the citizens. The United States government is balanced into three branches of government: Congress, POTUS, SCOTUS, the House of Representatives and the Senate: also between the Federal Government and the States. The States are broken down into different regions with different issues facing them and different interests eventually boiling down to the bill of rights. Congress has the power of lawmaking, along with what the President’s agenda is, recommending bills to congress, and the power of the President to veto bills. Congress contains the power of the purse in which Congress controls the power of taxation and spending. Congress legislations and policies control some aspects of our lives like taxation or when they regulate us. Our Government
Oliver Ellsworth, an important American lawyer and politician that lived during the first American Independence day, states his opinion on a new American Congress, “The powers of congress must be defined, but their means must be adequate to the purposes of their constitution. It is possible there may be abuses and misapplications; still, it is better to hazard something than to hazard at all”. In the original United States Constitution, the Framers wanted to make three different and equal branches of government, but today that is not the case. In present day government, Congress is more powerful than the President. The Legislative Branch, or Congress, is the second branch of the United States Federal Government. Congress is made up of two houses called the Senate and the House of Representatives. The main purpose of
Employers are not hiring any new help right now until they are sure that the economy will stay strong and not fall back down again. Many employers will fight against giving an individual unemployment benefits to help save them money on their unemployment insurance rates. The insurance rates are based upon the amount of benefits the unemployed receive. People will find it surprising that their unemployment benefits are being challenged. Employers will try to deny a claim but if one is successful, the cost of the company will raise. Unemployment benefits are not only for the people who have lost their jobs due to company downsizing but to people who have resigned or who were discharged for a reason beyond their control. The benefits are given to people who are unemployed with the intension of seeking new employment. The benefits usually come in small amounts to cover basic needs. You may receive unemployment benefit extensions for an additional thirty-four to fifty-three weeks during high unemployment. While receiving unemployment benefits, you have the option to have taxes taken out of each check as you receive them or you will have to pay at the end of the year when you file
In this essay, I will be writing about how the power relationship between the United States Congress and the presidency has changed during the past two hundred years. I will be talking about how the executive branch is more powerful than the legislative branch and how the changing relationship between Congress and the president affected American democracy in a good way.
Congressional authorization is the ability to empower and allocate funds, which supports Congress with an effective tool for omission and authority of intelligence activities. Congress is expected to have more power than the President and the Supreme Court. Its powers are also known to be Constitutional as well as evolutionary (ushistory). After the Senate as well as the House of Representatives approves a bill or proposed law, it then becomes an actual law. These two houses also share other powers, that involve coin money, the power to declare war, establishing rules of naturalization as well as immigration, raise an army and a navy, regulate commerce, and set up the federal courts along with their jurisdictions (ushistory). Although Presidents can have authority to act without Congressional authorization when necessary for the nations security, it would be better if they did seek Congressional authorization before acting or making any important decision regarding the nations security, in order to preserve Constitutional checks and balances, as well as make the right decisions and protect the President politically.
Article 1 of the U.S. Constitution gives Congress its powers and limits. Congress is the legislative branch of the government, meaning they are the ones to make laws for the United States of America. The article also creates the two sections of Congress, which is called a bicameral legislature. The first of the two is the Senate, which is made up of two senators from each state. The second is the House of Representatives, which has representatives from each state based on the
My thoughts about the power between Congress and The Presidency I think it’s all about balance. We look to Congress and The Supreme Court to lead our government and The President to be the head of our country to make hard decisions that sometimes lead our country into war. With that said neither one at the same time should have too much power we don’t want a dictatorship and our constitution was made to give the President the freedom to be great leaders. It's all about balance and doing what’s best for our country with both Congress and The
The economy was in disarray, the states had imposed tariffs on products from other states, paper money was virtually worthless in some states, and Congress was having trouble raising money due to a recession (Edwards, page 44). The Founders believed that the American economy was in shambles and sought to strength economic powers of the new government, thus affecting the structure of government. The Founders made sure that the Constitution clearly spelled out the economic powers of Congress. Congress was to be the chief economic policymaker, and could obtain revenues by taxing and borrowing. Congress was to encourage economic enterprise and investment, and had the power to build the nation’s infrastructure by constructing post offices and roads and establishing standard weights and measures. Congress was also charged with punishing counterfeiters and pirates, ensuring patents and copyrights, and legislating rules for bankruptcy. Congress’s new ability to regulate interstate and foreign commerce was a key congressional power. Economic concerns affected the structure of government and the Constitution granted Congress the power to create the conditions within which markets could flourish. These conditions prohibited practices in the states that they viewed as inhibiting economic development. The
Not only that Congress had the power to deal with foreign affairs and authority to declare war, and make peace, alliance and sign treaties. It persuaded all the states to coordinate between each other and also assisted them to settle their prolong disputes. The Department of Treasury, the Department of Postal Service and the Department of Foreign Affairs were established. Postal services and coin money was introduced for the first time.
The powers of Congress have evolved throughout the multiple proposed plans for a structured government. In the first proposed plan The Articles Of Confederation congress held the power to create alliances with other countries, control and maintain the military, and dealt with the financial element of the country. In The Articles Of Confederation it was favored to be state sovereignty exclusive since many of the states favored this because they were represented equally. This also allowed for a unicameral legislature to be constructed. In the virginia plan the powers of congress differed from the articles of confederation when they became a bicameral legislature that consisted of two chambers of congress. In the virginia plan congress would have
I agree with this statement, I do this because I feel that the congress deserves to have its powers. The constitution governs congress’ rights that should not be violated. I believe that the president should only do executive orders when it is 100 percent necessary. And by 100 percent I mean NATION THREATENINGLY bad. Other than that the congress should remain completely unperturbed
Our government is a steady system of 3 branches, all strategically made to support each other. The branches of our government help insure the separation of power in our society. The Constitution is the structure of our government, as it states the powers and limits of each branch. With these different roles in government, they all balance each other out. The Congress had been given powers for it to properly conduct their daily tasks and help the government properly function.
One of the main Problems in the Articles of Confederation was Congress didn't have the power to tax. In other words congress could not force taxation but could request states to provide a certain amount of money which was never fully given. The reasons congress needs taxes is so they have money to pay off debt, and improve other states. Without taxes nothing would be paid for and the U.S. would be in debt a very long time. However, an amendment was proposed to congress and it was passed. The proposed amendment is called the 16th amendment stating “The Congress shall have power to lay and collect taxes on incomes, from whatever source derived, without apportionment among the several States, and without regard to any census or enumeration.”
The concept of the separation of powers introduced in the American Constitution has been consistently praised throughout early academia as a check on the corruption and tyranny of the federal government. By distinguishing between state and national powers, policies are tailored to fit individual needs, and the personaliz+ed laws of each district collectively appeal to public interests. This statement, however, ignores the historical motives behind the separation of powers. In Slavery in the Structure of American Politics, Donald Robinson unveils the hidden background of American government that lies behind the nationalistic facade cultivated through education at the primary and secondary level. Compared to Hannah Arendt’s positive stance on the separation of powers in On Revolution, Robinson presents a more realistic analysis of the issue through the lenses of slavery and private interest.
The Legislative Brach of the federal government is made up of two Chambers, the House of Representatives and the Senate. These two bodies draft and pass laws that, if signed by the President of the United States, govern the United States and it's citizens.