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The Congressional Research Service provides detailed, up-to-date and non-partisan research for senators, representatives, and their staff to help them carry out their official duties. [20] The franking privilege allows members of Congress to send official mail to constituents at government expense. Though they are not permitted to send election ...
The Senate has exclusive power to confirm U.S. presidential appointments to high offices, and (by two-thirds supermajority to pass main motions) approve or reject treaties, and try cases of impeachment brought by the House. The Senate and the House provide a check and balance on the powers of the executive and judicial branches of government.
The degree to which the president of the United States has control of Congress often determines their political strength, such as the ability to pass sponsored legislation, ratify treaties, and have Cabinet members and judges approved. Early in the 19th century, divided government was rare but since the 1970s it has become increasingly common.
Article I, Section 1 of the U.S. Constitution explains the powers delegated to the federal House of Representatives and Senate.
This is an accepted version of this page This is the latest accepted revision, reviewed on 24 January 2025. Bicameral legislature of the United States For the current Congress, see 119th United States Congress. For the building, see United States Capitol. This article may rely excessively on sources too closely associated with the subject, potentially preventing the article from being ...
One congressional power is oversight of other branches of the government. In the early 1970s, the Senate investigated the activities of President Richard Nixon regarding Watergate which led to the president's resignation. One of the foremost legislative functions of the Congress is the power to investigate and to oversee the executive branch.
Congress often writes legislation to restrain executive officials to the performance of their duties, as laid out by the laws Congress passes. In Immigration and Naturalization Service v. Chadha (1983), the Supreme Court decided (a) The prescription for legislative action in Art. I, § 1—requiring all legislative powers to be vested in a ...
Lawmakers in the House and Senate divide up the funding of the government into 12 different appropriations bills. Committees in the House and Senate work to draft appropriations.