Exploring the Powers of Congress: A Worksheet Exercise

The United States Congress is the legislative branch of the federal government. It is composed of two chambers, the Senate and the House of Representatives, and is responsible for making the country’s laws. Congress has a variety of powers and its members wield significant influence in our political system. To better understand the role of Congress, this worksheet will explore some of its most important powers.

1. Make Laws: Congress is responsible for making the laws of the United States. It drafts, debates, and passes legislation that affects the entire nation. These laws can range from setting the national budget to regulating the economy.

2. Ratify Treaties: When the President of the United States negotiates with other countries, Congress must approve the resulting treaties before they become binding. This power is especially important when it comes to international trade agreements.

3. Override Presidential Veto: If the President vetoes a bill passed by Congress, the members of Congress can override the veto with a two-thirds majority vote in both chambers. This power is rarely used, but it is a powerful check on the power of the executive branch.

4. Impeach Federal Officials: Congress has the power to impeach and remove federal officials, including the President, from office. This power is used as a check on the abuse of executive power.

5. Approve Presidential Appointees: Congress must approve the President’s appointees for many important positions, including cabinet members and Supreme Court justices. This power helps to ensure that government positions are filled with qualified individuals.

6. Declare War: Congress has the power to declare war and authorize the use of military force. This power is used to protect the nation and its interests abroad.

7. Tax and Spend: Congress has the power to levy taxes and appropriate funds to the government. This power is used to fund the government’s operations and programs.

8. Regulate Commerce: Congress has the power to regulate interstate and international commerce. This power is used to ensure a fair and competitive marketplace.

Exploring the powers of Congress can help us to better understand the role it plays in our political system. Hopefully, this worksheet has provided a useful overview of some of its most important powers.

Understanding the Checks and Balances of Congress Through a Worksheet Activity

Congress is an essential part of the American government, and its checks and balances system is an important part of how it works. This worksheet activity is designed to help students better understand the three branches of government, the power they possess, and how they interact with each other.

Students will be asked to fill out a worksheet that includes a chart outlining the powers and responsibilities of each branch of Congress, including the legislative, executive, and judicial. This chart will also show the ways in which the three branches interact with each other, as well as how Congress can check the power of any of the other branches.

Once the chart is completed, students will be asked to explain the purpose of checks and balances in Congress. They will be asked to provide examples of how each branch can use its power to check the power of the others, and how these checks and balances are necessary for maintaining a healthy democracy.

Finally, students will be asked to discuss the importance of the checks and balances system and how it helps to ensure that no one branch of government has too much power. This discussion will help to reinforce their understanding of the importance of the checks and balances system in Congress.

By completing this worksheet activity, students will gain a better understanding of the checks and balances of Congress, and how this system works to ensure a healthy democracy. They will gain an appreciation for the importance of the separation of powers, and how the three branches of government interact with each other to ensure the system works as intended.

How to Analyze the Structure of the U.S. Congress Through a Worksheet

Step 1: Create a Worksheet
Create a worksheet that includes a grid of information about the structure of the U.S. Congress. Include the following information in the grid:

• Number of members in each chamber of Congress
• Number of committees in each chamber of Congress
• Number of subcommittees in each committee and chamber
• Number of joint committees
• Number of party caucuses or conferences

Step 2: Gather Information
Gather the necessary information to fill in the grid. This information can be found on the official websites of the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate.

Step 3: Fill in the Worksheet
Using the information gathered, fill in the grid of the worksheet. The grid should include the following information:

• Number of members in the House of Representatives: 435
• Number of members in the Senate: 100
• Number of committees in House of Representatives: 20
• Number of committees in Senate: 16
• Number of subcommittees in House of Representatives: 70
• Number of subcommittees in Senate: 45
• Number of joint committees: 16
• Number of party caucuses or conferences in House of Representatives: 19
• Number of party caucuses or conferences in Senate: 13

Step 4: Analyze the Data
Once the worksheet is filled in, analyze the data to gain a better understanding of the structure of the U.S. Congress. For example, look at the number of members in each chamber of Congress and compare it to the number of committees and subcommittees. This comparison can provide insight into how the U.S. Congress is structured and how it functions. Additionally, look at the number of joint committees and party caucuses or conferences to gain insight into how the two chambers of Congress interact.

Step 5: Summarize Findings
Summarize your findings from analyzing the data in the worksheet. Include an explanation of how the structure of the U.S. Congress works and the role of each chamber in the legislative process. Additionally, discuss the importance of joint committees and party caucuses or conferences in the legislative process.

The Impact of Congress’ Powers on American Politics: An In-Depth Worksheet Analysis

Congress is the legislative branch of the federal government in the United States. Congress is responsible for making laws, approving the president’s appointments, and providing oversight of the executive branch. As such, Congress has immense power over the American political system, with the ability to directly influence the nation’s policies and laws. This power has been used to shape American politics in many ways, both domestically and internationally.

One of the most significant powers of Congress is its ability to pass laws. This power is derived from Article I of the Constitution, which specifically grants Congress the ability to “make all laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into execution the foregoing powers.” This power has been used to pass numerous laws that have helped shape American politics. For example, Congress has passed laws that provide protection for civil rights, such as the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which outlawed discrimination based on race, religion, sex, and national origin. Congress has also passed laws that have expanded the power of the federal government, such as the Affordable Care Act, which increased access to health insurance for millions of Americans.

Congress also has the power to approve or reject the president’s appointments. This power comes from Article II of the Constitution, which states that the president “shall nominate, and by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, shall appoint Ambassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls.” This power has been used to shape American politics in numerous ways. For example, the Senate rejected President Reagan’s nomination of Robert Bork to the Supreme Court in 1987, which helped set the stage for the confirmation of more progressive justices in the coming years.

Congress also has the power to provide oversight of the executive branch. This power comes from Article I of the Constitution, which states that Congress “shall have Power… to make Rules for the Government and Regulation of the land and naval Forces.” This power has been used to investigate numerous scandals and controversies involving the executive branch. For example, Congress used its oversight powers to investigate the Watergate scandal in the 1970s and the Iran-Contra affair in the 1980s. These investigations helped to expose wrongdoing and ultimately led to the resignation of President Nixon and the indictment of several members of the executive branch.

In conclusion, Congress has immense power over the American political system, with the ability to shape domestic and international policies. Congress has used this power to pass laws, approve or reject presidential appointments, and provide oversight of the executive branch. The impact of Congress’ power on American politics has been significant, as it has helped to promote civil rights, expand the power of the federal government, and investigate wrongdoing in the executive branch.

Conclusion

The Powers of Congress Worksheet shows that Congress has a great deal of power to pass laws, regulate commerce, levy taxes, and control spending. While Congress is limited in its power by the Constitution, it is still a powerful body and can have a major impact on the lives of Americans. The worksheet also highlights the importance of understanding the legislative process and how it affects our daily lives.