Transcript Nonlegistive powers PP

Congress’ Non-legislative Powers
Constitutional Amendments
Congress has the power to propose
amendments to the Constitution by a twothirds vote in each house
>This has happened 33 times
 Congress may call a national convention at
the request of two-thirds of the States’
legislatures to propose an amendment
>This has NEVER occured

Constitutional Amendments
Congress has the power to propose
amendments to the Constitution by a twothirds vote in each house
>This has happened 33 times
 Congress may call a national convention at
the request of two-thirds of the States’
legislatures to propose an amendment
>This has NEVER occured

Electoral Duties
The House may be called on to elect the
President if no one receives a majority of
electoral votes
>This has happened twice: 1801 & 1825; it is
unlikely to ever happen again, due to the
strength of America’s 2 main political parties
AND because the electoral college has become
a “rubber stamp”
 Under the same circumstances, the Senate may
be called on to elect the Vice President
>This has only happened once: 1837

Electoral Duties
The House may be called on to elect the
President if no one receives a majority of
electoral votes
>This has happened twice: 1801 & 1825; it is
unlikely to ever happen again, due to the
strength of America’s 2 main political parties
AND because the electoral college has become
a “rubber stamp”
 Under the same circumstances, the Senate may
be called on to elect the Vice President
>This has only happened once: 1837

Impeachment


The House has the sole power to vote articles of
impeachment, or removal, of the President, Vice
President, and all other civil officers of the
United States
>There have been only 17 cases of the House
impeaching officials; 2 of those were Presidents:
Andrew Johnson (1868) & Bill Clinton (1998)
The Senate has sole power to conduct a trial of
those impeached by the House
>Only 7 people have been found guilty &
removed from office (all federal judges)
Impeachment


The House has the sole power to vote articles of
impeachment, or removal, of the President, Vice
President, and all other civil officers of the
United States
>There have been only 17 cases of the House
impeaching officials; 2 of those were Presidents:
Andrew Johnson (1868) & Bill Clinton (1998)
The Senate has sole power to conduct a trial of
those impeached by the House
>Only 7 people have been found guilty &
removed from office (all federal judges)
Andrew Johnson
After the Civil War, the Republican party
controlled both houses of Congress &
President Johnson disagreed with these
“Radical” Republicans about how the southern
states should be treated
 President Johnson wanted to welcome the
southern states back into the Union, while the
Radical Republicans wanted to punish them
for trying to secede
 When President Johnson failed to enforce a
law that Congress had passed, matters came to
a head

Andrew Johnson
After the Civil War, the Republican party
controlled both houses of Congress &
President Johnson disagreed with these
“Radical” Republicans about how the southern
states should be treated
 President Johnson wanted to welcome the
southern states back into the Union, while the
Radical Republicans wanted to punish them
for trying to secede
 When President Johnson failed to enforce a
law that Congress had passed, matters came to
a head

Andrew Johnson, cont
The House voted to impeach Johnson because
he failed to enforce a law passed by Congress,
which was a violation of his duties as
President
 This impeachment, however, is looked upon
by most historians as political revenge, rather
than a legitimate “high crime and
misdemeanor” as called for by the
Constitution
 Johnson was not removed from office,
however-the Senate vote was 1 short of the
required 2/3 vote needed

Andrew Johnson, cont
The House voted to impeach Johnson because
he failed to enforce a law passed by Congress,
which was a violation of his duties as
President
 This impeachment, however, is looked upon
by most historians as political revenge, rather
than a legitimate “high crime and
misdemeanor” as called for by the
Constitution
 Johnson was not removed from office,
however-the Senate vote was 1 short of the
required 2/3 vote needed

Bill Clinton
President Clinton was impeached in 1998 by a
House that was controlled by the Republican
party
 The House voted to impeach Clinton on 2
counts: perjury and obstruction of justice
(both came about when he withheld
information about an affair he had with an
intern)
 Opponents of this impeachment argued that
while what the President had done was wrong,
they did not warrant being removed from
office

Bill Clinton
President Clinton was impeached in 1998 by a
House that was controlled by the Republican
party
 The House voted to impeach Clinton on 2
counts: perjury and obstruction of justice
(both came about when he withheld
information about an affair he had with an
intern)
 Opponents of this impeachment argued that
while what the President had done was wrong,
they did not warrant being removed from
office

Bill Clinton
Clinton was acquitted on all charges on
February 12, 1999
 Although the Senate was also controlled by
the Republicans, only 45 voted to convict
Clinton on the perjury charge, and only 50
voted to convict Clinton on the obstruction of
justice charge (67 votes were needed to
convict on each charge)

Bill Clinton
Clinton was acquitted on all charges on
February 12, 1999
 Although the Senate was also controlled by
the Republicans, only 45 voted to convict
Clinton on the perjury charge, and only 50
voted to convict Clinton on the obstruction of
justice charge (67 votes were needed to
convict on each charge)

Executive Powers
The Senate must confirm all major
appointments made by the President
(including Federal judges and members of
the President’s Cabinet)
 The Senate must confirm all treaties made
by the President

Executive Powers
The Senate must confirm all major
appointments made by the President
(including Federal judges and members of
the President’s Cabinet)
 The Senate must confirm all treaties made
by the President

Investigatory Power
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
Congress holds the power to investigate matters
related to its legislative powers
Congress may choose to conduct an
investigation for five reasons:
 To gather information useful to Congress
 To oversee operations of the executive branch
 To focus public attention on an issue
 To expose questionable activities of public
officials
 To promote the interests of some members of
Congress
Investigatory Power


Congress holds the power to investigate matters
related to its legislative powers
Congress may choose to conduct an
investigation for five reasons:
 To gather information useful to Congress
 To oversee operations of the executive branch
 To focus public attention on an issue
 To expose questionable activities of public
officials
 To promote the interests of some members of
Congress