Congress Limited And Non Legislative Power

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Congress is the legislative branch of the United States government in which they enact laws that influence the daily lives of all Americans and are intended to serve as the voice of the people. It is made up of the House of Representatives and the Senate. They have control over a variety of powers outlined in the Constitution, some of which are enumerated and others that are not explicitly stated. The categories of power that Congress contains are the expressed, implied, and non-legislative powers. These three categories of powers allow Congress and the whole legislative branch to maintain power, but also work to keep the power limited. Congress has powers that are separated into expressed, implied, and non-legislative powers. Expressed powers …show more content…

An implied power is Congress’s ability to establish a national bank as it was necessary to handle the nation’s overall finances. The Necessary and Proper Clause gives the authority to Congress to make laws that are necessary and proper to carry out its expressed powers. Powers that are not related to passing a law are considered non-legislative laws. Alongside expressed powers, these powers are also laid out in Article 1, Section 8 of the Constitution. Impeachment and the approval of treaties and appointments are some examples of some non-legislative powers. These powers ensure that the checks and balances system works, although they are not directly related to law-making. One way to reform Congress to make them less powerful would be to limit the terms of Congress members. For example, “Term Limits reduce corruption and open our government to new people with new ideas to solve our country's problems” (source 1). This would create a more productive government, while limiting the power to Congress since their voice will only be heard for a short amount of time while they create new ideas and form solutions to …show more content…

.” (U.S. Constitution). This includes the establishment of post offices where mail can be sent, received, and sorted. Alongside postal offices, Congress also has the power to maintain roads and transportation routes, specifically to ensure timely delivery of mail throughout the country. While Congress is granted three very important congressional powers, they are limited in order to maintain checks and balances among the branches of government. In conclusion, Congress, as the legislative branch of the United States government, wields a complex set of powers categorized into expressed, implied, and non-legislative powers. Expressed powers are clearly outlined in the Constitution, such as the power to declare war, raise taxes, and establish post offices. These powers serve as the foundational framework for Congress's authority and responsibilities. Implied powers, though not explicitly stated, are derived from the Necessary and Proper Clause, allowing Congress to adapt to the evolving needs of the nation. Meanwhile, non-legislative powers, like impeachment and treaty approvals, ensure the checks and balances system remains intact. Despite the range of these powers, Congress's authority is not without limits, ensuring that no single branch of government becomes overly

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