AIMS |
BACKGROUND |
The aim of this gate is for you to understand the most important powers that have been granted to Congress through the Constitution (specifically by Article I, Section 8), as well as how the Elastic Clause allows Congress to evolve its functions for modern issues that weren't anticipated when the Constitution was written.
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The Legislative Branch of the United States federal government is made up of Congress and its related offices and agencies. Congress is bicameral, meaning it is made up of TWO chambers: the House of Representatives (lower house) and the Senate (upper house).
In contrast with the Articles of Confederation (the first constitution of the United States), which identified only one branch of government (a unicameral Congress), the U.S. Constitution created three (adding the executive and judicial branches). However, Article I, describing the legislative branch, is much longer than the articles of the Constitution that describe the other branches and other government functions and processes.
Furthermore, the United States' system of government is what we call "Federalism." This means that powers are shared (and sometimes split) between the state governments and the federal (national) government. While the 10th Amendment states that all powers not specifically given to Congress are reserved to the states, the Elastic Clause empowers Congress to do those things that are necessary and proper for carrying out the specific powers they WERE granted. |
FIRST STEP: GATE 2A ASSIGNMENT: Identifying the Powers of Congress
constitution_gate_2_assignment.docx | |
File Size: | 19 kb |
File Type: | docx |
OPEN THIS WORD DOC IN GOOGLE DOCS: Under "File," click "Save as a Google Doc." Then you can begin working on the assignment. When finished, submit it to JupiterEd by logging in to Jupiter, then clicking the "Grades" tab. Find the name of the assignment for the gate you have completed and click on it. You can then upload your assignment with the "Google Drive" option.
IF YOU'RE WORKING ON A MAC OR WINDOWS PC . . . this assignment will download as a Word document. You can complete the assignment in Word (or in Pages app), but you MUST EXPORT it to PDF and then upload the PDF version to JupiterEd. Thank you.
When you are finished (including questions and a 3-5 sentence summary at the bottom), either submit it to JupiterEd or check it in with your teacher (depending on which they stated in class).
DEFINITIONSLegislature: a body of persons granted the power (by election) to make, amend, and repeal laws.
Legislation: a law or set of laws made by a government; the action or process of making laws. Legislative Branch: the part of the United States government that creates laws. Congress: the national legislative body of the U.S., consisting of the Senate (or upper house) and the House of Representatives (or lower house); also, this same body, as it exists for a period of two years during which it has the same members (example: the 97th Congress). Bicameral: having two chambers, or houses, as a legislative body (example: the U.S. Congress is a bicameral legislature, made up of a Senate and a House of Representatives). Federalism: a system of government in which states share power with a national government (according to guidelines laid out in a national constitution). Elastic Clause: a statement in the Constitution (Clause 18 in Article I, Section 8) that gives Congress the right to make all laws "necessary and proper" to carry out its expressed powers (those specifically stated in Article I, Section 8). |
LAST STEP: GATE 2B ASSIGNMENT
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