C-span Classroom The Powers Of Congress Handout Answers

C-SPAN Classroom: The Powers of Congress Handout Answers – A Comprehensive Guide

The C-SPAN Classroom provides invaluable resources for educators and students alike. Their “Powers of Congress” handout, in particular, offers a concise overview of a complex topic. This guide will delve deeper into the key concepts presented in the handout, providing comprehensive answers and further enriching your understanding of the legislative branch of the US government.

Understanding the Structure of Congress

The handout likely begins by outlining the fundamental structure of the US Congress, a bicameral legislature consisting of:

The Senate

• Composition: 100 Senators (two per state), serving six-year terms. This ensures greater stability and less susceptibility to short-term political pressures compared to the House.
• Powers: The Senate possesses unique powers, including the confirmation of presidential appointments (judges, ambassadors, cabinet secretaries), ratification of treaties, and the trial of impeachment cases. Understanding the Senate's role in checks and balances is crucial. The filibuster, a procedural tactic to delay or block a vote, is another significant aspect often discussed in relation to the Senate's power dynamics.
• Leadership: The Vice President serves as President of the Senate, although their vote is only used to break ties. The Senate Majority Leader holds significant influence, controlling the Senate's agenda.

The House of Representatives

• Composition: 435 Representatives, apportioned among the states based on population, serving two-year terms. This ensures greater responsiveness to public opinion, but also makes it more susceptible to short-term political swings.
• Powers: The House holds the sole power of impeachment, initiating the process of removing a federal official from office. It also plays a key role in initiating all revenue bills (taxation).
• Leadership: The Speaker of the House, elected by the House members, is a powerful figure, controlling the legislative agenda and the chamber's overall operations.

The Enumerated Powers of Congress

The C-SPAN handout undoubtedly covers the enumerated powers of Congress, those explicitly granted by the Constitution. These powers are categorized for clarity and understanding.

Financial Powers: Controlling the Nation's Purse Strings

• Taxation: Congress has the power to levy taxes, duties, imposts, and excises, the bedrock of federal revenue. Understanding the different types of taxes and their impact on the economy is vital. The handout likely highlights the debates surrounding tax policy and its implications.
• Spending: Congress controls the federal budget, authorizing expenditures for various government programs and initiatives. This power allows Congress to influence national priorities and shape policy through its funding decisions. Analyzing historical spending patterns can be enlightening.
• Borrowing: Congress can borrow money on the credit of the United States, a crucial power for managing national debt and funding government operations. The discussions about the national debt and its implications for future generations should be explored further.
• Coinage and Currency: Congress has the power to coin money and regulate the value thereof, ensuring a stable and reliable monetary system. The evolution of the US monetary system and its challenges are worth researching.

Commerce and Economic Regulation: Shaping the Marketplace

• Commerce Clause: This is arguably one of the most significant powers granted to Congress, giving them the authority to regulate interstate and foreign commerce. This power has been broadly interpreted throughout US history, shaping economic policy and business regulations. The handout should explore landmark Supreme Court cases that have interpreted the Commerce Clause.
• Bankruptcy Laws: Congress establishes uniform laws on bankruptcy, ensuring consistency and fairness across the nation. The impact of bankruptcy laws on individuals and businesses is a valuable area of study.
• Patents and Copyrights: Congress protects intellectual property through the granting of patents and copyrights, incentivizing innovation and creativity. The legal framework surrounding patents and copyrights and their societal implications are topics worth investigating.

National Security and Defense: Safeguarding the Nation

• Declare War: Congress alone holds the power to declare war, a fundamental check on the executive branch's power in matters of national security. The history of war declarations and their consequences are critical to understanding this power.
• Raise and Support Armies: Congress has the power to raise and support armies, providing the necessary resources for national defense. The discussions on military spending, its impact on the economy and national security, should be highlighted.
• Provide and Maintain a Navy: Similar to raising armies, Congress is responsible for providing and maintaining a navy, ensuring the protection of US maritime interests. Historical analyses of the US Navy’s role in global affairs can enrich the understanding of this power.
• Call forth the Militia: Congress can call forth the militia to execute the laws of the Union, suppress insurrections, and repel invasions. This power is linked to national security and the maintenance of domestic order.

Other Important Powers: A Wider Scope of Influence

• Naturalization: Congress has the exclusive power to establish a uniform rule of naturalization, defining the process by which individuals become US citizens. Understanding the historical evolution of immigration policy is vital here.
• Post Offices and Post Roads: Congress has the power to establish post offices and post roads, facilitating communication and commerce. The historical impact of the Postal Service and its role in connecting the nation is relevant.
• Weights and Measures: Congress has the responsibility of establishing uniform standards of weights and measures, ensuring consistency and fairness in trade and commerce.
• Necessary and Proper Clause (Elastic Clause): This clause grants Congress the power to "make all laws which shall be necessary and proper" for carrying out its enumerated powers. This clause has significantly expanded the scope of Congress's authority over time, often leading to debates on the balance of power between Congress and other branches. Landmark Supreme Court cases involving this clause are essential reading.

Checks and Balances: The Interplay of Power

The C-SPAN handout should emphasize the vital role Congress plays in the system of checks and balances, preventing any one branch from becoming too powerful. These checks include:

• Legislative Veto (now largely invalid): While largely deemed unconstitutional, understanding its historical role in Congressional oversight is beneficial.
• Power of the Purse: Congress's control over federal spending provides a powerful check on the executive branch.
• Impeachment: The House's power to impeach and the Senate's power to try impeachment cases are crucial checks on the executive and judicial branches.
• Confirmation of Appointments: The Senate's power to confirm presidential appointments limits the executive branch's ability to shape the judiciary and bureaucracy.
• Treaty Ratification: The Senate’s role in ratifying treaties limits the President's ability to conduct foreign policy unilaterally.

The Legislative Process: From Bill to Law

The handout likely details the legislative process, a complex series of steps that a bill must go through to become law. Understanding this process is crucial:

• Bill Introduction: A bill can be introduced in either the House or Senate.
• Committee Action: Bills are referred to committees for review, hearings, and potential revisions.
• Floor Debate and Vote: If a committee approves a bill, it goes to the full chamber for debate and a vote.
• Conference Committee: If the House and Senate pass different versions of a bill, a conference committee reconciles the differences.
• Presidential Action: The President can sign the bill into law, veto it, or allow it to become law without signature after a specific period.
• Congressional Override: Congress can override a presidential veto with a two-thirds vote in both chambers.

Modern Challenges Facing Congress

The C-SPAN handout may also touch upon the challenges facing Congress in the 21st century:

• Partisanship and Polarization: Increased political division has made it difficult for Congress to address pressing national issues effectively.
• Gridlock and Inefficiency: The legislative process is often slow and inefficient, hindering progress on important legislation.
• Campaign Finance: The influence of money in politics is a major concern, raising questions about fairness and accountability.
• Public Trust: Declining public trust in government is a significant challenge for Congress, undermining its legitimacy and effectiveness.

By expanding on the points likely covered in the C-SPAN Classroom handout, this guide offers a more in-depth exploration of the powers of Congress. Remember to consult the original handout and other credible sources for further information and a more complete understanding of this crucial branch of the US government. Further research into relevant Supreme Court cases and historical examples will greatly enhance your comprehension of the complexities and nuances of Congressional power.