congress Flashcards
article 1
established the powers and limitations of the legislative branch
article 2
established the powers and the limitations of the executive branch
article 3
establishes the powers of the judicial branch
article 4
deals with the relations among the states and with the national government
article 5
amending the constitution
article 6
supremacy of national law
article 7
ratification of the constitution
the founders intended that this should be the dominant branch of government
congress
to serve in the house
25 years old and be a citizen for 7 years
to serve in the senate
30 years old and be a citizen for 9 years
both have to be
members must reside in the state from which they are elected
what congress does
make laws
versight
representation
budget making
article 1, section 1, clause 1
vesting clause
thousands of bills introduced, but most die
in committee
tax measures
house only, by constitution
only members may introduce a bill
1921; watchdog- is money being used properly
government accountability office
problems with congressional oversight
- committee members place constituent protection and the interest of big campaign donors above rule enforcement
- party in power in congress much less likely to have good oversight if president is of the same party dont want to make the party look bad
article 1 section 9 clause 7
budget making
OMB
the office of management and budget
a nonpartisan agency CBO
the congressional budget office
a formal declaration by a legislative committee that a certain amount of funding may be available to an agency
authorizations
the passage, by congress, of a spending bill specifying the amount of authorized funds that actually will be allocated for an agencyś use
appropriation
the practice in the US of financing expenditures with funds that are currently available rather than borrowed
pay as you go rule
explicit constitutional powers- powers specifically delegated to the congress by the US constitution
enumerated
article 1 section 8 clause 1-17
- power to buy and collect taxes
-to borrow money
-to coin money
-standard of weights and measures - to declare war
-to establish post offices
-to provide and maintain a navy
-to raise and support armies
-rules for the capital
the necessary and proper clause
the elastic clause (necessary and proper)
that is powers not explicitly named in the constitution but assumed to exist due to their being necessary to implement
implied powers
e of the most important safeguards of personal liberty within the american legal system
the writ of habeas corpus
legislative act which punishes a person without a trial prohibits that person from inheriting or bequeathing property
no bill of attainder
any law which makes criminal an act which was not criminal when committed, or which inflicts a greater punishment than when the crime was committed
ex post facto
clause 8
ensure that the United States would never develop a formal aristocracy
