Question

1. What are the overall powers of the legislative branch?
2. Briefly compare debate rules in the House and the
Senate.
3. What are the special powers of the House of
Representatives?
4. What does the phrase advice and consent mean?

Answer 1

1. Makes all the laws, declares war, regulates interstate and foreign commerce and controls taxing and spending policies.

Answer 2

1. Levying and collecting taxes, borrowing money by issuing bonds and certificates, controlling and regulating commerce between the states and between the United States and other nations, determining how people become citizens of the United States, printing and coining money.
2. In the Senate, debate time is more or less unlimited. In the much larger House, debate is strictly controlled by the Rules Committee. Senate debate rules allow bills to be talked to death through a filibuster. That isn’t possible in the House.
3. To best represent the will of the people, tax measures must be initiated in the House. The House also has the power to vote to impeach a federal official.
4. Advice and consent is the Senate’s power to approve or reject presidential appointments.