WARM-UP- WRITE AND ANSWER EACH QUESTION

1. What does bicameral mean?

2. Name the 2 houses in Congress.

3. How many members are there in each house?

THE POWERS OF CONGRESS

Lesson #2

(pages 151–152)

What are some benefits that members of Congress enjoy?

Along with their $150,000 salary, members of Congress receive •free office space, •parking, •trips to their home states•franking privileges •immunity in some situations•low-cost life insurance • use of a gymnasium•special restaurants•a medical clinic.

The Constitution of the United States defines the structure and powers of the national government.

Article I of the Constitution outlines the Legislative Branch and Congress

POWERS OF CONGRESS Meet with your

12:00 partner to complete the activity on the main powers of Congress

The main powers of Congress are:

1. Makes the laws of the nation

2. Approves annual budget

3. Confirms presidential appointments

4. Raises revenue through taxes and other levies

5. Regulates interstate and foreign trade

6. Declares war

THE POWERS OF CONGRESS CAN BE DIVIDED INTO :

Expressed powers- Powers written specifically into the

Constitution

Implied powers-Powers not listed in the Constitution

Article I Section 8 lists the expressed powers of Congress.

These are called expressed powers because the powers are actually written out saying exactly what Congress has the power to do.

Work with your 3:00 partner to find out what these expressed powers are.

The Founders stopped listing the powers after #17.

How could they anticipate everything Congress would need to do in the future?

Article I Section 8.18 is where Congress gets its implied powers.

Critical Thinking

Click the mouse button or press theSpace Bar to display the answer.

Making Predictions What problems might have arisen in our government if the elastic clause had not been included in the Constitution?

Possible answer: Congress would have had difficulty meeting needs as times changed.

Click the Speaker button to replay the audio.

Supporting Clinton

CHECKS AND BALANCES OF THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCHEach of the 3 branches of the

national government limits the power of the other 2 branches.

1. Congress checks the power of the president when legislators:

Override presidential vetoes Impeach and convict a president

2. Congress checks the courts when legislators:

Confirm or refuse to confirm federal judges

Impeach and convict judges and justices

(pages 148–149)Click the mouse button or press the

Space Bar to display the answer.

If the House votes to impeach an official, is that person removed from office?

Not necessarily. After the House votes to impeach, the Senate acts as jury. A two-thirds vote in the Senate is required to convict and remove the person from office.

Nonlegislative Powers (cont.)

TRUE/FALSE ACTIVITY