1. The United States
Congress
established in Article I of
the Constitution

2. THE STRUCTURE OF
CONGRESS
THE POWERS OF CONGRESS
THE ORGANIZATION AND
MEMBERSHIP OF CONGRESS

3. ALL
LEGISLATIVE
POWERS

4. THE STRUCTURE OF
CONGRESS
SENATE HOUSE
Congress is bicameral, which means it
contains two houses
a direct result of the Great Compromise

5.  Intended to represent the people
 representation based on population
 considered the lower house
 lower prestige
 435 members, each serving a 2 year term
 Also 5 nonvoting members
 all seats are up for re-election every 2 years
 each state has at least 1 member
 representative seats are redistributed or
reapportioned after every 10 year census
 Qualifications - 25 years of age, citizen for 7
years, live in the state that they represent

7.  Intended to represent the states
 representation based on equality
 considered the upper house
 higher prestige
 100 members, serving a 6 year term
 terms are staggered
 each state has 2 members - this does not
change
 Qualifications - 30 years of age, citizen for 9
years, live in the state that they represent

8. Representatives
represent
individual
districts
Senators
represent
the entire
state

10. The powers of
Congress are limited
by the Constitution
There are three types
of congressional
powers
DELEGATED or
ENUMERATED
IMPLIED
NONLEGISLATIVE

11. Lawmaking powers specifically listed in the
Constitution
IN BLACK AND WHITE (I, 8, 1 – I, 8, 17)
Taxing power (1,8,1)
Borrowing power (1,8,2)
Commerce power (I,8,3 - it’s big!)
Currency power (I,8,5)

12. Lawmaking powers specifically listed in the
Constitution
IN BLACK AND WHITE (I, 8, 1 – I, 8, 17)
War and military power (I,8,11-15)
Bankruptcy power (I,8,4)
Other powers – Copyrights, Lower
Courts, Weights and Measures,
Naturalization, D.C.

14. powers not specifically written
in the Constitution
powers that are necessary
and proper to carry out the
enumerated powers
Article I, Section 8, Clause 18

15. ELASTIC
CLAUSE
it allows Congress to stretch its power

16. Congress can set up a
Post Office (it is
enumerated in the
Constitution)
But what
about
stamps?

17. COMMERCE
PURSE

19.  Investigate (both houses)
 Impeach (House impeaches,
Senate holds trial)
 confirm Presidential
appointees and treaties
(Senate does this)

20. SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE
MAJORITY MINORITY
LEADER LEADER
MAJORITY MINORITY
WHIP WHIP
REST OF HOUSE

21. VICE PRESIDENT
PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE
MAJORITY MINORITY
LEADER LEADER
MAJORITY MINORITY
WHIP WHIP
REST OF SENATE

22. JOURNAL (I, 5, 3)
SALARY (1, 6, 1)
PRIVILEGES &
BENEFITS (1, 6, 1)
PENALTIES – Censure
and expulsion (I, 5, 2)

23. THE 112 th CONGRESS

24. HOUSE SENATE
435 members 100 members
242 Republican 47 Republican
192 Democratic 51 Democratic
1 vacant seats 2 Independent (aligned
with Democratic Party)
356 male 82 male
78 female 18 female
44 African Americans 0 African American
26 Hispanic Americans 3 Hispanic Americans
9 Asian Americans 2 Asian Americans
1 Native American 0 Native American