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.