CONGRESSIONAL POWERS

LEGISLATIVE POWERS

Taxing and Spending/ Appropriations billsTax bills start in the House

of RepresentativesPresident makes budgetCongress approves

LEGISLATIVE POWERS

Regulating foreign and interstate commerce

LEGISLATIVE POWERS

Declaring WarCongress declares war

President orders troops into battle

LEGISLATIVE POWERS

Creating and maintaining an army and navy

LEGISLATIVE POWERS

Approving treatiesPresident makesSenate approves

NON-LEGISLATIVE POWERS

Proposing AmendmentsCongressional action

Proposal = 2/3 CongressRatification = 3/4 state legislatures

NON-LEGISLATIVE POWERS

Counting electoral votes

NON-LEGISLATIVE POWERS

Addressing presidential succession issues

NON-LEGISLATIVE POWERS

Approving/rejecting Presidential nomineesSenate

NON-LEGISLATIVE POWERS

ImpeachingHouse of Reps. = begins proceedings

Senate = acts as a jury

NON-LEGISLATIVE POWERS

Overseeing government activitiesWatchdog

POWERS DENIED TO CONGRESS

Cannot pass laws that violate the Constitution

POWERS DENIED TO CONGRESS

Cannot suspend the writ of habeas corpusPolice have to bring prisoner to court and explain why they are holding him.

POWERS DENIED TO CONGRESS

Prohibited from passing bills of attainderLaws that punish a person without a jury trial

POWERS DENIED TO CONGRESS

No ex post facto lawsLaws that make an act a crime after it has been committed

POWERS DENIED TO CONGRESS

Checks and balancesSupreme Court determines

constitutionality of lawsPresident can veto billsCan only override laws with

a 2/3 vote in both houses.