Chapter 11: The Scope of Congressional PowerChapter 11: The Scope of Congressional Power

I. Congressional PowerI. Congressional PowerA. Three types of power: 1. Expressed 2. Implied 3. InherentB. Strict v. Liberal Constructionist 1. Strict constructionist: Congress should only

exercise those powers: a. expressed in Constitution b. implied powers necessary to carry out

expressed powers

A. Three types of power: 1. Expressed 2. Implied 3. InherentB. Strict v. Liberal Constructionist 1. Strict constructionist: Congress should only

exercise those powers: a. expressed in Constitution b. implied powers necessary to carry out

expressed powers

2. Liberal constructionist:broad construction of the powers given to Congress

a. resulted in a growth of National Power: 1. Wars 2. Economic crisis 3. National emergency 4. Advances in transportation and

communication

2. Liberal constructionist:broad construction of the powers given to Congress

a. resulted in a growth of National Power: 1. Wars 2. Economic crisis 3. National emergency 4. Advances in transportation and

communication

b. Majority of Americans have supported broad interp. Of Constitution

b. Majority of Americans have supported broad interp. Of Constitution

II. Expressed Powers of Money and CommerceII. Expressed Powers of Money and Commerce

A. The Power to Tax 1. Purpose of Taxes: a. 90% of gov’t. revenue comes from

taxes levied b. tax- charge levied by government on

persons or property to meet public needs.

1. Protective tariff 2. licensing

A. The Power to Tax 1. Purpose of Taxes: a. 90% of gov’t. revenue comes from

taxes levied b. tax- charge levied by government on

persons or property to meet public needs.

1. Protective tariff 2. licensing

2. Limits on the Taxing Power a. limits on taxing power: 1. tax for public purposes not

private benefit 2. May not tax exports 3. Direct taxes must be

apportioned among the states a. income tax

2. Limits on the Taxing Power a. limits on taxing power: 1. tax for public purposes not

private benefit 2. May not tax exports 3. Direct taxes must be

apportioned among the states a. income tax

4. Indirect tax: one first paid by one person but then passed on to another.

a. cigarettesB. The Borrowing Power 1. No limits on borrowing or purposes 2. Deficit financing: spend more than

take in and borrow to make up diff.

4. Indirect tax: one first paid by one person but then passed on to another.

a. cigarettesB. The Borrowing Power 1. No limits on borrowing or purposes 2. Deficit financing: spend more than

take in and borrow to make up diff.

a. public debt: all of the $ borrowed by government over the years and not yet repaid plus interest

3. Balanced Budget Act of 1997: eliminate deficit spending by 2002

a. 1998-2001 gov’t. reported a surplus b. 3 factors ending surpluses: 1. Major tax cuts of 2001 2. Economic downturn

a. public debt: all of the $ borrowed by government over the years and not yet repaid plus interest

3. Balanced Budget Act of 1997: eliminate deficit spending by 2002

a. 1998-2001 gov’t. reported a surplus b. 3 factors ending surpluses: 1. Major tax cuts of 2001 2. Economic downturn

3. Onset of war on terrorism

c. 2002 Budget deficit: $159 Billion

3. Onset of war on terrorism

c. 2002 Budget deficit: $159 Billion

C. The Commerce Power: power to regulate interstate and foreign trade

1. Commerce Clause 2. Gibbons v. Ogden, 1824: a. brought an extension of federal

authority into many areas of American life

C. The Commerce Power: power to regulate interstate and foreign trade

1. Commerce Clause 2. Gibbons v. Ogden, 1824: a. brought an extension of federal

authority into many areas of American life

3. Limits on Commerce Power a. struck down Gun Free School Zone Act of

1990- U.S. v. Lopez, 1995 b. 4 limits on Commerce Power: 1. Cannot tax exports 2. Cannot favor ports of one state over

another 3. Cannot require vessels bound from one

state to another to pay duties 4. Could not interfer with slave trade

3. Limits on Commerce Power a. struck down Gun Free School Zone Act of

1990- U.S. v. Lopez, 1995 b. 4 limits on Commerce Power: 1. Cannot tax exports 2. Cannot favor ports of one state over

another 3. Cannot require vessels bound from one

state to another to pay duties 4. Could not interfer with slave trade

D. The Currency Power- power to coin money and regulate its value

1. Paper $ as currency v. coined moneyE. The Bankruptcy Power 1. Bankruptcy: legal proceeding in which

bankrupt’s assets are distributed among those to whom debt is owed

a. frees them from legal responsibility for debt acquired before

D. The Currency Power- power to coin money and regulate its value

1. Paper $ as currency v. coined moneyE. The Bankruptcy Power 1. Bankruptcy: legal proceeding in which

bankrupt’s assets are distributed among those to whom debt is owed

a. frees them from legal responsibility for debt acquired before

b. fed. Law is broad and excludes States from process

b. fed. Law is broad and excludes States from process

III. Other Expressed Powers

III. Other Expressed Powers

A. Foreign Relations Power 1. War Powers a. declare war b. raise and support armies c. make rules governing land

and naval forces

A. Foreign Relations Power 1. War Powers a. declare war b. raise and support armies c. make rules governing land

and naval forces

B. Other Expressed Powers 1. Naturalization 2. Postal Power 3. Copyrights and Patents a. Copyright Office in Library of

Congress: good for life plus 70 years b. does not enforce protections of

copyrights

B. Other Expressed Powers 1. Naturalization 2. Postal Power 3. Copyrights and Patents a. Copyright Office in Library of

Congress: good for life plus 70 years b. does not enforce protections of

copyrights

c. Patent- sole right to manufacture, use, or sell; good for 20 years.

4. Weights and Measures 5. Power over territories and other areas a. can acquire property by purchase

or gift b. eminent domain: power to take

private property for public use

c. Patent- sole right to manufacture, use, or sell; good for 20 years.

4. Weights and Measures 5. Power over territories and other areas a. can acquire property by purchase

or gift b. eminent domain: power to take

private property for public use

6. Judicial Powers a. create federal courts b. define federal crimes and

set punishments for violation

6. Judicial Powers a. create federal courts b. define federal crimes and

set punishments for violation

IV. Nonlegislative Powers

IV. Nonlegislative Powers

A. Electoral Duties 1. 12th Amendment: a. House- elects President if no one gets

270 b. Senate- elects Vice-President 1. 2x- 1801 and 1825 2. 25th Amendment- majority vote of

Congress to approve V.P. nominee a. 2x- 1973 and 1974

A. Electoral Duties 1. 12th Amendment: a. House- elects President if no one gets

270 b. Senate- elects Vice-President 1. 2x- 1801 and 1825 2. 25th Amendment- majority vote of

Congress to approve V.P. nominee a. 2x- 1973 and 1974

# Office Current Officer1 Vice PresidentPresident of the Senate Dick Cheney2 Speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi3 President Pro Tempore of the Senate Robert Byrd4 Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice5 Secretary of the Treasury Henry Paulson6 Secretary of Defense Robert Gates7 Attorney General Michael Mukasey8 Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne— Secretary of Agriculture Charles Conner (acting)‡— Secretary of Commerce Carlos Gutierrez (non-natural)†— Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao (non-natural)†9 Secretary of Health and Human Services Michael Leavitt10 Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Alphonso Jackson11 Secretary of Transportation Mary Peters12 Secretary of Energy Samuel Bodman13 Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings— Secretary of Veterans Affairs Gordon Mansfield (acting)‡‡14 Secretary of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff ††

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B. Impeachment- President, V.P., and all civil officers

1. House- power to impeach (to accuse, bring charges)

a. majority vote 2. Senate- power to try and convict a. 2/3 vote to convict 3. Chief Justice presides over trial

B. Impeachment- President, V.P., and all civil officers

1. House- power to impeach (to accuse, bring charges)

a. majority vote 2. Senate- power to try and convict a. 2/3 vote to convict 3. Chief Justice presides over trial

4. Occurred 2x in Presidential History: a. 1868- Andrew Johnson b. 1998- Bill Clinton 1. Censure: formal condemnation

of his behavior c. Richard Nixon- opted to resign on

August 9, 1974

4. Occurred 2x in Presidential History: a. 1868- Andrew Johnson b. 1998- Bill Clinton 1. Censure: formal condemnation

of his behavior c. Richard Nixon- opted to resign on

August 9, 1974