Lesson Thirteen: What Powers Were Granted to the Legislative Branch?

Terms to Know:
Apportioned-the allocation of legislative seats
Bills of Attainder-an act of legislature that inflicts punishment on an individual or group without a judicial trial
Enumerated Powers- those rights and responsibilities of the U.S. government specifically provided for and listed in the Constitution
Equal Representation-
Ex Post Facto Laws-a criminal law that makes an act a crime that was not a crime when committed, that increases the penalty for a crime after it was committed, or that changes the rules of evidence to make conviction easier; prohibited by Article I of the Constitution
Fugitive slave clause-
The Great Compromise-adopted at the Philadelphia Convention, this plan provided for equal representation of the states in the Senate and House of Representatives according to population
Impeach-charging a public official with a crime in office for which they can be removed from power
Necessary and proper clause-the clause in Article I of the U.S. Constitution that gives Congress the power to make all laws that are “necessary and proper” to carry out the powers expressly delegated to it by the Constitution
Proportional representation-the electoral system in which the number of representatives of a state in the House of Representatives is based on the number of people who live in that state
Separated powers-the division of powers among different branches of government
Supremacy clause-Article VI, Section 2, of the U.S. Constitution, which states that the Constitution, laws passed by Congress, and Treaties of the United States “shall be the supreme law of the land” binding on the states
Treason-“giving aid and comfort” to the enemy during war time
Question and Answer:
1. Why did the Framers appoint a special committee to deal with the issue of representation? How was the committee organized?
· Afraid that the convention would dissolve with nothing accomplished, the delegates appointed a special committee with one member of each state to come up with a compromise.
2. What was the Connecticut Compromise or the Great Compromise? How did it resolve the conflict of representation?
· It was a plan that provided for equal representation in the Senate and proportional representation in the House. This basically meant that each side (small v large) got something and gave something up at the same time. The small states had equal representation in the Senate and could control the acceptance and rejection of taxation bills. Large states would have majority control over tax bills (which is what they really wanted), but they always had a check on them from the Senate.
3. What is meant by “enumerated powers”? Why did the Framers decide to specifically enumerate the powers granted to Congress?
· Enumerated powers are those rights and responsibilities of the U.S. government specifically provided for and listed in the Constitution. The Framers felt that by listing the powers, there would be no confusion as to what powers the Congress did or did not have.
4. What is the “necessary and proper clause”?
· Oh please, just look at the definition.
5. What is the “supremacy clause”?
· Please refer to “Terms to Know.”