1.
What does bicameral mean?
2.
Name the 2 houses in Congress.
3.
How many members are there in each
house?
Lesson #2
What are some benefits that members of
Congress enjoy?
Along with their $150,000 salary, members of Congress
receive
•free office space,
•parking,
•trips to their home states
•franking privileges
•immunity in some situations
•low-cost life insurance
• use of a gymnasium
•special restaurants
•a medical clinic.
(pages 151–
152)
The Constitution of the United States defines
the structure and powers of the national
government.
Article I of the Constitution outlines the
Legislative Branch and Congress

Meet with your 12:00
partner to complete the
activity on the main
powers of Congress
The main powers of
Congress are:
1. Makes the laws of the
nation
2. Approves annual
budget
3. Confirms presidential
appointments
4. Raises revenue through
taxes and other levies
5. Regulates interstate
and foreign trade
6. Declares war
Expressed powersPowers written specifically into the
Constitution
Implied powersPowers not listed in the Constitution
Article I Section 8 lists the expressed powers of
Congress.
These are called expressed powers because the
powers are actually written out saying
exactly what Congress has the power to do.
Work with your 3:00 partner to find out what
these expressed powers are.
The Founders stopped listing the powers after
#17.
How could they anticipate everything Congress
would need to do in the future?
Article I Section 8.18 is where Congress gets its
implied powers.
Critical Thinking
Making Predictions What problems might
have arisen in our government if the
elastic clause had not been included in the
Constitution?
Possible answer: Congress would have had
difficulty meeting needs as times changed.
Click the mouse button or press the
Space Bar to display the answer.
Supporting Clinton
Click the Speaker button
to replay the audio.
Each of the 3 branches of the national
government limits the power of the other
2 branches.
1. Congress checks the power of the president
when legislators:


Override presidential vetoes
Impeach and convict a president
2. Congress checks the courts when legislators:


Confirm or refuse to confirm federal judges
Impeach and convict judges and justices
Nonlegislative Powers
(cont.)
If the House votes to impeach an official,
is that person removed from office?
Not necessarily. After the House votes to
impeach, the Senate acts as jury. A twothirds vote in the Senate is required to
convict and remove the person from
office.
Click the mouse button or press the
Space Bar to display the answer.
(pages 148–
149)