Congressional Powers
Article I, Section 8 authorizes Congress to lay and collect these in order to raise revenue.
What are taxes?.
This 1787 gathering in Philadelphia produced the framework for the Constitution, including Article I.
What is the Constitutional Convention?
This is the official floor or hall where a full legislative body meets to debate and vote on measures.
What is a chamber? (entire room of legislative body)
of
What is the Legislative floor? (Designated area inside chamber where debates are held)
These powers are specifically listed in Article I, Section 8 of the U.S. Constitution, including the power to coin money, declare war, and establish post offices.
What are enumerated powers?
This presidential power rejects a bill passed by Congress and returns it to the chamber where it originated, usually with objections.
What is a veto?
Congress’s power to regulate trade “with foreign Nations, and among the several States” is known as this clause.
What is the Commerce Clause?
James Madison supported this plan, which proposed proportional representation in a two-chamber national legislature.
What is the Virginia Plan?
This term describes a court’s legal authority to hear and decide particular categories of cases, such as disputes involving federal law or cases on appeal.
What is jurisdiction?
These congressional powers are not expressly written in the Constitution but are reasonably connected to carrying out listed powers.
What are implied powers?
This action allows Congress to enact a bill despite presidential rejection when two-thirds of both the House and Senate vote in favor.
What is an override?
Unlike the president, Congress has the constitutional power to take this formal action against another nation
What is declaring war?
William Paterson supported this plan, which proposed a one-house legislature in which each state received one vote.
What is the New Jersey Plan?
The House of Representatives may initiate this formal process to charge federal judges with serious misconduct; the Senate then conducts a trial and may remove them from office.
What is impeachment?
This constitutional provision authorizes Congress to make all laws that are “necessary and proper” for executing its enumerated powers.
What is the Elastic Clause?
In the Senate, this strategy uses extended debate or the threat of extended debate to delay or prevent a vote on legislation.
What is a filibuster?
Congress may use this power to offer federal funds to states on stated conditions, provided the conditions relate to the general welfare and are not unconstitutionally coercive.
What is the Spending Power?
This convention body prepared the first full draft of the Constitution and added the Necessary and Proper Clause.
What is the Committee of Detail?
This constitutional process requires the president’s judicial nominees to receive the Senate’s advice and consent before taking office.
What is Senate confirmation?
Congress establishes a national bank as a practical way to collect taxes, borrow money, and manage the nation’s finances. This action relies most directly on these powers.
What are implied powers?
This is the minimum number of members who must be present for a legislative body, such as Congress, to conduct official business.
What is a quorum?
This explicit clause in Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution gives Congress the power to pass all laws "necessary and proper" for carrying out its defined responsibilities.
What is the Elastic Clause? (Acceptable: What is the Necessary and Proper Clause?)
This 1787 agreement settled a major convention debate by creating a bicameral Congress, satisfying large states with proportional representation in the House and small states with equal representation in the Senate.
What is the Great Compromise? (also accepted: the Connecticut Compromise)
When the Supreme Court rejects a prior understanding of the Constitution adopted in an earlier case and substitutes a new constitutional rule, it is engaging in this practice.
What is overturning judicial interpretations?
These powers are claimed by the national government because they are necessary for a sovereign nation to govern itself, even though the Constitution does not explicitly list them; examples include controlling immigration and conducting foreign affairs.
What is inherent powers?
In the U.S. Senate, this procedure invokes a supermajority vote to limit further debate and bring a filibuster toward an end. What is this procedure?
What is cloture?