The U.S. Congress: Powers, Structure, and Lawmaking
Expressed Powers of Congress
The expressed powers of Congress include:
- Coining money
- Collecting taxes
- Regulating commerce
- Raising and maintaining armed forces
- Declaring war
Funding the Government: Congressional Authority
The Constitution authorizes Congress to fund the government primarily through levying taxes and borrowing money.
Direct vs. Indirect Taxes Explained
An indirect tax is levied on one person but passed on to another for payment to the government (e.g., sales tax, excise taxes). A direct tax
Read MoreUK Government: Cabinet and Parliament
The Legislative Power of the Houses
The legislative power of the Lords is almost equivalent to that of the Commons, and laws must be approved by both Houses. However, the House of Lords has been excluded from all competition in projects of a financial nature. Nevertheless, it has an important work of revision and amendment on laws. As there are no time limits for discussion, they are usually of great interest, and as its members are non-elected, they are in a position to introduce some kind of legislation
Read MoreUS Federal Court System and Civil Liberties
Structure of the Federal Court System
The Constitution establishes the Supreme Court but doesn’t mention other federal courts. Congress has the power to create courts and determine their structure, hierarchy, number of judges, and salaries (Judiciary Act of 1789). Federal courts are separate from state courts. Each state has its own system, handling most trials. Most court cases (divorces, traffic tickets, minor criminal matters) are handled in state or local courts, which are not part of the federal
Read MoreForms of Government and US Constitutional Amendments
Forms of Government
- Representative Democracy: Government is elected by citizens (e.g., USA).
- Direct Democracy: The people decide on policies without any intermediary or representative (e.g., Switzerland).
- Dictatorship: A form of government in which one person or a small group possesses absolute power without effective constitutional limitations (e.g., North Korea). One person decides for everyone.
- Autocracy: A form of government in which one ruler has absolute control and decision-making power in all
Key Legal Terms and US Government Concepts
Definitions:
- Jurisdiction: The authority to hear and decide a case.
- Exclusive Jurisdiction: The sole right to hear a case.
- Concurrent Jurisdiction: When both state and federal courts have the right to hear a case.
- Plaintiff: The person making a legal complaint.
- Defendant: The person against whom a legal complaint is filed.
- Grand Juries: Panel of citizens set up to hear evidence of a possible crime.
- Misdemeanor: A minor crime.
- Sovereign Immunity: Principle that a sovereign government cannot be taken to court
US Constitution: Amendments and Federalism
The US Constitution: Amendments and Key Cases
First Amendment
Congress shall make no law respecting the establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.
Landmark Supreme Court Cases Related to the First Amendment
- Everson v. Board of Education: Provided public busing for students.
- Board v. Allen: Child benefit more than school;