Q # 05: Explain the powers of congress or discuss the role of congress in U.S
1) Introduction
The congress of the United States is a legislative body of the country and its function is to making law. The constitution of United States made the congress more and more powerful. Congress is consisted upon two chambers, Senate and House of representative in which all members have power of legislation .The House and Senate are equal partners in the legislative process. Both senators and representatives are chosen through direct election and people choose them directly in elections
2) Functions and powers of U.S congress
Following are the main functions and powers of U.S congress
I. Legislative powers
a. Law making
The congress has power of law making regarding commerce and trade. As well as congress can amend or modify any kind of legislations
b. Regulation of monetary (Paisay se mutaliq) system
Congress of United States has power to regulate monetary system of the country. And no one can interfere with in these powers congress
c. Formation of Armed forces
The congress has power to control and organization of Armed forces of the United States. Congress totally overrule on the Armed forces and Armed forces are bound to obey order of Congress
II. Executive powers
a. Appointments
Congress of United States has power of hiring high ranked officials as congress shares his power with the president of U.S
b. Creation of new departments
Congress has power to create new departments in the country for the betterment
of the states
c. Fixation of salaries and duties
Congress fixes the salaries and duties of the offices as well as fixes the duties of the government department
d. Supervision of administrative work
Congress supervise the administration work of the country and all departments are answerable to congress
e. Making of treaties
The congress has power to make treaties with other countries.
III. Judicial powers
a. Composition of Supreme Court
Congress makes law for the composition of the Supreme Court
b. Power of appellate
Congress has power to cancel the decision of the Supreme Court. No one can challenge congress in this regard
c. Impeachment of president and others
Congress can conduct proceedings of impeachment against the president, vice president and the speaker
d. Confirmation of presidential appointment of judges
Congress has power to confirm the appointment of judges of supreme court made by the president
e. Creation of courts
Congress can create new courts in the country with the need of the time
IV. Electoral powers
a. Counting of votes
Congress meets after every four years and counts votes for president and vice president
b. Election of president and vice president
If no candidate get fail to gain majority of votes of elector. In this case congress has power to elect three candidates who have received highest votes count
V. Investigative powers
Congress performs investigative functions through regular standing committee and by special committees set up for the purposes
VI. Financial powers
Congress alone has power to grant money to the federal government. All bills of revenues are initiated in lower house
a. Collection of taxes
Congress has power to levy and collect taxes ,duties and excises from government departments
VII. Emergency powers
During the time of national crises congress has emergency powers. These powers are integral in emergency and therefore unlimited
VIII. Constituent
a. Amendment
Congress can amend the constitution by having two third majority in each house or by calling a special convention
IX. Inherent powers
a. Admission of new states
Congress has power to admit new state or can add more states in United states
b. Declaration of war
Congress can declare war and has full power to use of Armed forces
c. Treaties
Congress can make treaties with the foreign countries
d. Maintenance of Diplomatic relation
Congress maintains diplomatic relations with other countries
3) Distinctive features of the congress
I. Absence of the leadership
There is neither any leader nor any opposition in both house of the congress
II. Legislative initiative
Legislative initiative is in hands of the private members. Bill are usually moved by the private members
III. Parochialism (Tang Nazri)
In U.S.A neither a senator nor a representative would obey the party call if it will be against the wishes of his states
IV. Burden of work
Congress deals with a number of businesses. It also deal with all sort of problems relating international and national level affair
V. Role of committees
Committee plays vital role with in the legislation. All the bills are referred to the committee
VI. Pork barrel and log-rolling legislation
Congress has to deals with such problems which are affecting specific interests of group and localities
VII. Position of upper house
The upper house of the congress which is known as senate has dominating over the lower house which is knows as House of Representatives
4) Conclusion
The legislative powers of the both house are equal but senate is more powerful than the House of Representatives. Congress of the United states is a bicameral system. Two members from every states are chosen by the people which sits in senate and are called senators. The members of House of Representatives are selected according to their population that’s why there count is more and less according to their state population
