powers

Question 1

name all of the powers of congress:

Answer 1

1. law making
2. overseeing the executive branch
3. overriding the president’s veto
4. confirming appointments
5. ratifying treaties
6. initiating constitutional amendments
7. impeaching and removing public officials
8. confirming an appointed vice president
9. declaring war
10. electing the president if there’s an electoral deadlock

Question 2

describe the power of law making with an example:

Answer 2

-bills must pass through both houses
-the HoR is the only house that first considers money bills, then the senate considers it second
-e.g. obama care - affordable health care act

Question 3

describe the power of overseeing the executive branch with an example:

Answer 3

-congress must approve federal budgets
-oversight is essential for maintaining accountability, ensuring that laws are implemented correctly, and safeguarding against abuse of power
-congressional committees allow congressional oversight of the executive
-e.g. house committees, such as the budget house committee, oversee the executive

Question 4

describe the power of overriding the president’s veto with an example:

Answer 4

-if the president issues a veto of a bill, congress can decide to amend or abandon the bill, or to override the veto which they can do with a supermajority
-e.g. in 2021 congress overturned trump’s veto for a deference spending bill

Question 5

describe the power of confirming appointments with an example:

Answer 5

-only happens in the senate
-senate confirmation is required for all presidential appointments to the judiciary
-many presidential appointments to the executive branch also need senate confirmation
-e.g. under obama in 2016 the senate refused to appoint a justice that obama wanted, because obama was a democrat and the senate was dominated by the republicans

Question 6

describe the power of ratifying treaties with an example:

Answer 6

-only happens in the senate
-although presidents negotiate treaties, they can’t be made official without a 2/3rds majority in the senate, therefore the senate must be kept informed throughout treaty organisations
-e.g. in 2020 the senate voted to ratify the new strategic arms reduction treaty, negotiated by obama

Question 7

describe the power of initiating constitutional amendments with an example:

Answer 7

-any constitutional amendment needs a 2/3rds majority in both houses
-once it passes congress the amendment is then sent to the states for approval
-e.g. in 1970 congress passed a statute lowering the voting age to 18

Question 8

describe the power of impeaching and removing public officials with an example:

Answer 8

-only the HoR can impeach a public official where a simple majority is needed
-only the senate can try impeachments, where a 2/3rds majority senate vote is needed
-e.g. judge kent was impeached in 2009 on charges of sexual assault

Question 9

describe the power of confirming an appointed vice president with an example:

Answer 9

-when there’s a vacancy in the office of the VP, the president nominates a VP who takes office upon confirmation by a majority vote in both houses
-e.g. ford was confirmed as a VP in 1973

Question 10

describe the power of declaring war with an example:

Answer 10

-both houses must vote for a declaration of war
-however modern presidents avoid asking for a formal declaration
-e.g. in 1917 wilson addressed congress and called for a declaration of war against germany, which congress voted yes on

Question 11

describe the power of electing the president if there is electoral deadlock:

Answer 11

-the senate chooses the vice president whilst the HoR chooses the president
-in 1824 no candidate had a majority, so the HoR elected john quincy adams even though andrew jackson had won a plurality of both the electoral and popular votes in the original election