The Constitution: The Limited Powers of Congress
The Framers of the United States Constitution wanted to provide more power to the individuals and less power to the federal government. This was an extreme brand-new concept, and it began with the legislative branch: the House of Representatives and the Senate.
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Script:
” We the People of the United States.”
These are the words that open the American Constitution. We take them for granted now, but at the time they were composed they were earth-shattering. If you think that seem like an exaggeration, consider this:
No government had actually ever come into existence based on a document written for individuals and approved by them.
It makes best sense, then that the most immediate and accountable branch of the federal government, the legislature, would be the first item on the Constitution’s program.
This is Article I.
It’s divided into 10 areas.
Section 1 produces a bicameral legislature; that is, a legislature made up of 2 separate entities: a House of Representatives and a Senate. Therefore, the style of the Constitution is immediately recommended: this is going to be a federal government in which power is both restricted and shared.
Area 2 describes how members of your home of Representatives are to be picked. To run for workplace, you must be a citizen, reside in the state you’re representing and be at least 25 years of age.
It’s simple to miss out on, however at the time this was another surprising feature of the Constitution: practically anybody might be a candidate for Congress. The citizen politician is an American innovation.
Section 2 also describes who might vote and the number of people it requires to comprise a Congressional district.
This “shall be figured out by contributing to the whole Number of totally free Persons … and … 3 fifths of all other Persons.”
This last expression refers, obviously, to slaves. It should be kept in mind that the word “servant” does not take place in the Constitution. The Framers kept it out for two reasons. One, they recognized it would not play well in a file that was everything about flexibility. 2, they believed that slavery would disappear with time.
It did exist in the Framers here and now, so it had actually to be dealt with.
The Northern abolitionists– those who were for abolishing slavery– didn’t believe slaves need to be counted at all. Why? Since if servants were counted, the population of the Southern slave states would be increased, and consequently the political impact of the anti-slavery North would be reduced.
Of course, the Southern states desired their servants counted as five-fifths, that is, as entire individuals so that the population of the slave states would be greater and provide the South more power in the House of Representatives.
The three-fifths compromise followed much intense argument. Neither side was totally satisfied. The nation stayed unified and got a constitution– no small feat.
Area 3 concerns the 2nd legal body, the Senate. Whereas members of the House of Representatives are elected by the individuals straight and serve two-year terms, senators are to serve six-year terms and are selected by each state federal government.
Populated states would have more representatives than less populous ones, however every state would have the very same number of senators– 2. This gave the states an equal share of legislative power. The minimum age requirement to be a Senator was set at 30.
Areas 4, 5, and 6 develop the fundamental operating guidelines: when Congress will fulfill, what makes up a quorum, what to do with disorderly members, and so on.
Section 7 sets out the procedure for enacting legislation. An expense must get the approval of both your house and the Senate to end up being a law. The President is also involved in this process. He can veto legislation. His veto, nevertheless, can be bypassed by a two-thirds vote by both houses of Congress.
Passing laws– which by meaning are limitations on freedom– is not meant to be easy. It’s suggested– unless there is overwhelming support– to be hard.
Section 8 notes the legislature’s numerous responsibilities such as developing and gearing up the Armed Forces, creating money, and controling interstate commerce. Possibly the most crucial of these duties is articulated in the Taxing and Spending Clause, which allows Congress to gather taxes and to invest for the national defense and general welfare.
For the complete script, see: https://www.prageru.com/video/the-constitution-the-limited-powers-of-congress
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The Framers of the United States Constitution desired to provide more power to the people and less power to the government. These are the words that open the American Constitution. It should be noted that the word “slave” does not occur in the Constitution. The country stayed united and got a constitution– no little task.
Populated states would have more agents than less populous ones, however every state would have the same number of senators– two.