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The Constitution empowers the House of Representatives to impeach federal officials for "Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors" and empowers the Senate to try such impeachments. [78] The House may approve "articles of impeachment" by a simple majority vote; however, a two-thirds vote is required for conviction in the Senate. [79]
Generally, the Senate and the House of Representatives have equal legislative authority, although only the House may originate revenue and appropriation bills. [5] Congress has an important role in national defense, including the exclusive power to declare war, to raise and maintain the armed forces, and to make rules for the military. [85]
Congress has exclusive authority over financial and budgetary matters, through the enumerated power to lay and collect taxes, duties, imposts and excises, to pay the debts and provide for the common defense and general welfare of the United States. This power of the purse is one of Congress's primary checks on the executive branch. [6] In ...
There are 435 voting members in the House of Representatives. Each representative is elected to a two-year term to serve a certain congressional district in their designated state. There are six ...
It is a huge check by the courts on the legislative authority and limits congressional power. In 1851, for example, the Supreme Court struck down provisions of a congressional act of 1820 in the Dred Scott decision. [13] However, the Supreme Court can also extend congressional power through its constitutional interpretations. [citation needed]
The House of Representatives shall chuse their Speaker and other Officers; and shall have the sole Power of Impeachment. Section Two further provides that the House of Representatives shall choose its Speaker and its other officers. Though the Constitution does not mandate it, every Speaker has been a member of the House of Representatives. [37]
Additionally, several amendments include a Congressional power of enforcement in which the language "The Congress shall have the power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation" is used with slight variations, granting to Congress the power to enforce the following amendments: Amendment XIII of the United States Constitution
At the beginning of each two-year Congress, the House of Representatives elects a speaker. The speaker does not normally preside over debates, but is, rather, the leader of the majority party in the House. The Vice President of the United States is, ex officio, President of the Senate. The Senate also elects a President pro tempore. For decades ...