Powers of Congress!

Powers of Congress!And the people who help your legislators use those powers!

1First some things Congress CANT do Article I, Section 9May not suspend writ of habeas corpusMay not pass bills of attainderMay not pass ex post facto lawsMN adultery law hypotheticalCant tax exportsCant issue titles of nobilityExcept for Giesen; hes Duke of Rochester. (Not really)

2Now things Congress CAN do . . . Money Powers!Power to Tax/SpendRevenue and AppropriationsRevenue bills MUST start in House of Reps. Why?Power to BorrowSavings bonds and Treasury notesloans to the government, over time they matureNational Debt around 15 trillion bones

3Money contd!Commerce PowerCommerce Clause Congress can regulate INTERstate commerceCurrency PowerCongress can coin money, regulate its valueCongress can punish counterfeitersDitch the penny?~1.8 cents to make a penny, ~9 cents to make a nickelAre you flippin kidding me?Bankruptcy PowerLegal proceedings to administer assets of someone who cant pay their debt

4Foreign Relations and War Powers!Approve treatiesNegotiated by others, but must be approved by CongressDeclare warPrez is Commander in Chief, but cannot declare warWar Powers Act (1973) Prez cant commit soldiers to combat for more than 60 days without notifying CongressMaintain armed forcesGenerally amounts to appropriationsRegulate foreign commerceApprove of official trade agreements NAFTA for example

5Naturalization and National GrowthCongress has power over naturalization processProcess by which one becomes a citizenAdmit new states and govern territoriesManage federal landsParks, etc.

6Postal PowerCreate Postal ServiceRegulate itCertain things cant be mailedPrice of postageFight crime?Using the mail for ANY illegal act is a federal crime

7Copyrights and PatentsCopyright exclusive right to publish and sell literary, musical, or artistic workLifetime of creator +50 years Patent exclusive right to manufacture, use, sell an invention17 years (renewable)

8Weights and MeasuresEstablish a standard system of weights and measuresStill fighting that metric system!

9Judicial PowersCreate courtsConfirm federal judicial appointmentsSet criminal laws, determine federal penalties

10Implied PowersElastic Clause: make all laws necessary and proper for carrying into Execution the foregoing Powers . . .Basically do whatever it needs to do to execute its powers

11Congressional Staff Personal StaffAdministrative Assistant (AA) Manage officeManage scheduleDeal with influential visitors/constituentsLegislative Assistant (LA)Keep boss informed about billsResearch and draft legislationAttend meetings, meet with lobbyists, negotiating with other Congressmen, etc.CaseworkersMore directly work with constituents in home district (~1/3-1/2 of staffers)

12Committee Staff and Support AgenciesCommittee Staff draft bills, plan hearings, write memos, prepare committee reportsSupportsLibrary of Congress big ol library, Congressional Research ServiceCongressional Budget Office Study budget proposals and gauge impactGeneral Accounting Office monitors Congresss spending, finances of government programsGovernment Printing Office prints everything the government needs printedCongressional Record daily record of bills, speeches, etc. presented in CongressStatistical Abstract of the United States

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