Chapter 7
Development of Congressional Powers
Section 1
1. Where does the Constitution lay out the legislative powers of Congress?
2. What is the difference between “strict construction” and “loose construction?”
3. Define legislative powers.
4. What is the “power of the purse?”
5. From what body must revenue bills originate?
6. Tax bills are the responsibility of the House ______.
7. Define appropriations bill.
8. Explain the quote by Adam Hoffer.
9. What is the theory behind cutting income tax to stimulate the economy?
10. Congress is in charge of ______and has the power to make laws concerning ______.
11. What is commerce?
12. Any widespread activity that can possibly be considered interstate commerce is subject to ______.
13. What precedent did Heart of Atlanta Motel v. United States set?
14. How many times has Congress used the power to declare war?
15. Define impeachment.
Discussion Questions
Why are the money powers granted to Congress so important?
How has the Commerce Clause enabled Congress to apply a loose interpretation to the Constitution?
Section 2
16. Congressional investigations are performed by ______.
17. What happened to the IRS as a result of the Senate’s 1998 investigation?
18. Define subpoena.
19. What is perjury?
20. Follow the “hold itself in contempt” link. Why was the 2014 Congress called the “Do-nothing Congress?
21. How and why does Congress use immunity?
22. What is legislative oversight?
23. Through its power of legislative oversight, Congress can check on how the ______is administering the law.
24. What are the 4 limits to legislative oversight?
1.
2.
3.
4.
25. How does Congress’s control of appropriations help provide oversight?
26. Define legislative veto.
Discussion Questions
By what methods does Congress exercise its power of legislative oversight?
Section 3
27. When do the best relations between Congress and the President exist?
28. ______represent much narrower interests. Sometimes those narrower ideas don’t mesh with what the ______is preaching.
29. How do checks and balances effect relations between Congress and the President?
30. How do the political timetables of Congress and the president differ?
31. Follow the “different voter turnout” link. How is turnout for midterm elections and general elections different?
32. Why did presidents continue to keep the US in a state of emergency from 1933 to 1976?
33. Define impoundment.
Discussion Questions
How have the characteristics of the American system led to competition and conflict between Congress and the President?
Why has power shifted back and forth between the president and Congress over the years?