5. Congress is bicameral, which means it
contains two houses
a direct result of the Great Compromise
HOUSESENATE
THE STRUCTURE OF
CONGRESS
6. 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.
8. 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
11. The powers of
Congress are limited
by the Constitution
There are three types
of congressional
powers
DELEGATED or
ENUMERATED
IMPLIED
NONLEGISLATIVE
12. 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)
13. 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.
15. 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