U.S. Congress Overview and Powers

Necessary and Proper Clause

• This clause generates ongoing debate due to its ambiguity and susceptibility to misinterpretation.
• It provides a foundation for implied powers, allowing Congress to act beyond explicitly enumerated powers.

Legislative Process

• After introduction, a bill undergoes a review process in committee, which involves examination and potential modification.

Congressional Powers

• Creating laws is recognized as the most significant power held by Congress, central to legislative function.

Membership Rules

• Both senators and representatives can be expelled for breaking established rules, ensuring accountability and integrity.

Bicameral Legislature

• Congress operates under a bicameral system as outlined by the Constitution, dividing its structure into two distinct chambers.

Article I of the Constitution

• Article I primarily focuses on detailing the powers and responsibilities of the legislative branch, establishing Congress's role in governance.

Prohibited Actions

• The Constitution expressly prohibits the enactment of ex post facto laws, which criminalize actions retroactively, to protect individual rights.