5.2 Powers of Congress and Congressional

Committees

Do Now: Why do people use sarcasm?

Powers of Congress

Typed of Congressional Power

Expressed-Directly stated in the Constitution

Implied-Powers required in order to enact the expressed ones

Inherent-Powers inherent to any sovereign

state

Expressed Powers

Taxation-Able to collect taxes for defense, debt, and

common welfare

Borrowing-The ability to spend more than they earn

Commerce-The power to regulate interstate and foreign

trade

Currency-The power to print and coin money and regulate

its value

Bankruptcy-The power to regulate financial failures

Expressed PowersForeign Relations-The power to conduct relations with

foreign nations

War-The power to declare war and raise armies

Naturalization-The process by which aliens become citizens

Post-Control of the Postal Service and all of its activities

Copyrights and Patents-Congress regulates rules

concerning these

Weights and Measures-Control over standardizes

measurements

Territory-The power to control non state territory (DC,

Guam, etc)

Judicial-Power to define federal crimes and punishments

Necessary and Proper Clause

“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.”

Non-Legislative Powers

Constitutional Amendments

Impeachment

Appointments

Treaties

Investigatory Power

Political Cartoons(AKA Editorial Cartoons)

Political cartoonists use illustrations to make their views known and attempt to sway public opinion.

Work in groups to complete your Political Cartoon Analysis worksheet

Congressional Committees

The houses of Congress each meet regularly as a body to vote or discuss important issues, however, the majority of the bill writing and editing happens in committee.

Congressional Committees

Standing Committees meet permanentlySpecial Committees meet for limited timeJoint Committees have members from both houses

House Standing Committees

Agriculture

Appropriations

Armed

Services

Budget

EducationEnergy and Commerce

Financial

Services

Gov’t Reform

House AdminInternational Relations

Judiciary

Resources

Rules

Science

Small Business

Standards

Transportation

Veterans

Affairs

Ways and

Means

House Agriculture Committee

This committee oversees all aspects of agriculture from laws regarding GMO crops to organic certification to migrant labor regulations.

House Ways and Means Committee

This committee originates all tax laws and also governs federal insurance programs.

House Appropriations Committee

Once the Budget Committee sets the budget Appropriations Bills determine how much each program gets.

House Rules Committee

This committee determines when and how bills will be debated and voted upon. They have more power than other committees due to their power to block or delay legislation.

5.2 Assignment

Use the worksheet to create your own political cartoon about congress. You may choose to focus on the way congress works, common problems that it exhibits, or issues that it currently faces.