Role of Congress

1. Role of Congress

2. Overview • Constitutional Powers, Roles/Duties of the U.S. Congress • War Powers Resolution Act • Congressional oversight

3. Samples of Behavior • Describe key historic events of the US Congress from 1787 to the present • ID the structure, organization, and key members of Congress • State the usual procedure for introduction of a bill or joint resolution to its enactment into law • List the major differences between the two legislative houses

4. Samples of Behavior • ID the Constitutional roles and duties of both legislative houses • Summarize the role and impact of Congress in today’s American society • Describe the executive branch’s reports required by Congress’ oversight compliance • Explain the provisions of the War Powers Resolution Act

5. Constitutional Powers • Powers to assess and collect taxes--called the chief power • To regulate commerce, both interstate and foreign • To coin money • To establish post offices and post roads • To establish courts inferior to the Supreme Court

6. Constitutional Powers • To declare war • To raise and maintain an Army and Navy • ``To provide for calling forth the Militia to execute the Laws of the Union, suppress Insurrections and repel Invasions'' • “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.''

7. Constitutional Roles And Duties • Senate was given advise and consent power by the U.S. Constitution • Responsible for ratifying treaties negotiated by the President with foreign countries • Approves the President's nominees for such high-level federal positions as cabinet officers, ambassadors, and federal judges

8. Constitutional Roles And Duties • In constitutional theory, running so frequently for re-election is believed to allow Representatives to come to know their constituencies well • This enables House Members to accurately reflect the views of the local citizenry and better advocate the needs of each district • Members of the House are also likely to be more sensitive to changes in popular sentiment

9. Constitutional Roles And Duties • The House was given the authority to originate all revenue bills and over the years, tradition has extended this power of origination to spending bills as well • Sets the framework for the important questions of collecting taxes and raising money for the U.S. Treasury and then distributing it through legislative appropriations

10. War Powers Resolution Act • Passed in 1973 • Can only deploy troops under: • Declaration of war • Statuary authorization • National emergency • Report to Congress within 48 hours of deployment • Report status periodically to Congress

11. War Powers Resolution Act • Limit of 60 days without declaration of war (with a 30 day extension for troop withdrawal) • Keep President from getting US troops into war without clear resolution • Reassert the war powers of Congress under Article I of Constitution

12. Presidential Compliance to WPRA • Never officially recognized • Ford • Reagan • Bush • Consequences for Forcing Compliance • If found unconstitutional, Congress powerless to limit presidential initiatives/adventurism • If upheld in court, Presidents would have to fully comply with WPRA

13. Other Congressional Oversight • Periodic Reports • Executive branch reports to Congress every 12, 6, or 3 months • Notification (most frequent) • i.e. Arms sales, foreign assistance • One-Time Report (least frequent) • Committees • i.e. House Foreign Relations Committee • The ULTIMATE OVERSIGHT: $$$

14. Summary • Constitutional Powers, Roles/Duties of the U.S. Congress • War Powers Resolution Act • Congressional oversight