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Chapter 6 Study Notes

Terms in this set (38)

Congressional Power - Tax and Spend
All requests for money must go through Congress: Revenue bills (raising taxes) -and- Appropriations Bills (laws to authorize spending) which come from the Executive Branch
Congressional Power - Other Money Powers
allows Congress to borrow money; coin money; make laws on bankruptcy
Congressional Power - Commerce Power
Congress regulates foreign trade and interstate trade
Congressional Power - Foreign Policy
Approve treaties; Declare war; Create and maintain army/navy; Regulate foreign commerce (trade)
Congressional Power - Providing for Nation's Growth
Power over process of naturalization; admit new states, govern territories, military bases, national parks and historic sites
Congressional Power - Other Legislative Powers
Copyrights; Patents and Trademarks
Non-Legislative Powers - Choose a President
If no presidential candidate wins majority of electoral votes, Congress will select President
Non-Legislative Powers - New Vice President??
If President must appoint a new VP, it must be approved by Congress
Non-Legislative Powers - Remove from Office
The House has power of impeachment (accusation of misconduct while in office); can vote to remove from office
Non-Legislative Powers - approve appointments
Senate has power to approve the President's appointments to federal office
Non-Legislative Powers - Ratify Treaties
Senate has power to ratify treaties between the U.S. and other nations
Non-Legislative Powers - Amend Constitution
Amendments to the Constitution may be proposed by 2/3rds vote in each house
Power to Investigate #1
Congressional committees may conduct investigation
Power to Investigate #2
Committee's staff members collect evidence and schedule witnesses
Power to Investigate #3
Congressional Investigations are NOT trial but committees have similar powers: Issue subpoena (legal order to force someone to appear or produce evidence); Require witnesses to testify under oath;
Punish witnesses who refuse to testify (holding them in contempt/can be jailed)
immunity
freedom from being prosecuted for a crime in exchange for testifying against other people
subpoena
Legal document that demands you to appear at a certain time and place and/or bring evidence
perjury
witness lies under oath
contempt
to refuse to answer questions under oath
Legislative Oversight
Congress oversees or reviews how the Executive Branch is doing its job
How does Congress exercise its oversight powers?
Requires executive agencies to submit reports on their activities; tudy an executive agency's work; Reviews budgets and determines appropriations
Cause of Conflict between President and Congress
Political Parties - if President and Congress belong to different parties it will be difficult for them to work together and very little will get done
Cause of Conflict between President and Congress
Differing Political Time Tables: President only has 2 terms (8 years) to complete what he wants to; Congress has no term limits so is in no hurry to work with the President to get things done
Causes of Conflict between President and Congress
Systems of Checks and Balances: because neither Congress nor President are in charge, both compete against each other for power; constant source of conflict
How has Congress limited President's Power:
Budget and Impoundment Control Act (1974) - This Act limited the President's ability to impound funds (refuse to spend money as requested by Congress).
Why did the Framers require all tax laws to originate in the House of Representatives rather than the Senate?
Because larger states (with more representatives in the House of Representatives) wanted more control over taxes and the money
Bill (proposed law) to raise money
Revenue bill
Bill (proposed law) to spend money
Appropriations Bill (request from Executive Branch)
Congressional Budget Office (CBO)
group of financial experts to give advice to Congress
Express Powers
the powers that are listed in the Constitution
Implied Powers
powers that are not listed specifically, also called the "Necessary and Proper" clause
Gridlock
When there is so much fighting in Congress and with the President that no laws can get passed.
Powers of congressional committees during investigations
issue subpoenas; collect evidence and schedule witnesses; hold witnesses in contempt
Impeachment
An accusation of wrongdoing against the President
Removal from Office
Once a president has been impeach, Congress must have 2/3rd vote to remove president from office
National Budget
yearly financial budget for the U.S.
Legislative Veto
A power Congress used to have (until 1983) that gave them the power to veto regulations put in place by the president; Supreme Court said it was unconstitutional
Impoundment
The president refuses to spend money that Congress wants him to spend on a program or agency
THIS SET IS OFTEN IN FOLDERS WITH...