US Constitution- Article One

A person must be 25 years old in order to serve in the House of Representatives. This age requirement ensures that individuals have gained enough life experience and maturity to effectively represent their constituents and make informed decisions on legislative matters. It also reflects the expectation that representatives should have a certain level of professional and personal development before assuming such a significant role in the government.

Section 8 of the Constitution grants Congress the authority to regulate commerce. This means that Congress has the power to oversee and control trade and business activities that occur between states and with foreign nations. By regulating commerce, Congress can establish rules and regulations to ensure fair competition, protect consumers, and promote economic growth. This power allows Congress to intervene in various aspects of commerce, such as setting standards, enforcing regulations, and resolving disputes, in order to maintain a well-functioning and balanced economy.

To override a President's veto, Congress requires a vote of 2/3. This means that two-thirds of both the House of Representatives and the Senate must vote in favor of overriding the veto. This high threshold is intentionally set to ensure that there is a broad consensus among lawmakers before a veto can be overturned.

Appointing judges is not a power of Congress. The power to appoint judges is vested in the President of the United States, with the advice and consent of the Senate, as stated in the Constitution. This separation of powers ensures an independent judiciary and prevents any one branch of government from having complete control over the appointment of judges. Congress does have the power to establish and regulate the federal court system, but the actual appointment of judges is not within their authority.

The founders of our country originally charged the State Legislatures with the responsibility of selecting Senators. This means that the State Legislatures had the power to choose who would represent their state in the Senate. This was an important decision made by the founders to ensure that the states had a voice in the federal government and to maintain a balance of power between the states and the federal government.

Members of Congress determine their own pay. This is established in Article I, Section 6 of the United States Constitution, which grants Congress the power to set their own compensation. This provision was included to ensure the independence of the legislative branch and prevent other branches of government from exerting undue influence over Congress. As a result, members of Congress have the authority to vote on and approve any changes to their salaries.

When a vacancy occurs in Congress, the Constitution authorizes the particular state's governor to appoint replacements. This means that if a member of Congress resigns, dies, or is unable to fulfill their duties, it is the responsibility of the governor of their state to appoint someone to fill the vacant position. This ensures that each state is represented in Congress at all times and allows for a smooth transition when a vacancy occurs.

In the process of Senate impeachment, when the President is being tried, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court presides over the Senate. This responsibility falls on the Chief Justice because it ensures a fair and impartial trial, as the Supreme Court is considered the highest judicial authority in the country. The Chief Justice's role is to oversee the proceedings, maintain order, and make rulings on any legal matters that may arise during the trial. This arrangement helps to maintain the separation of powers and ensures that the trial is conducted with the utmost integrity and impartiality.

In 2005, the Supreme Court expanded the authority of Congress through the Commerce Clause in the case of Gonzales v. Raich. The Commerce Clause is a provision in the United States Constitution that grants Congress the power to regulate interstate commerce. This decision allowed Congress to regulate activities that may not directly involve commerce but have an impact on interstate commerce. By interpreting the Commerce Clause broadly, the Supreme Court bolstered the power of Congress in regulating various aspects of the economy and society.

In the 1990's Supreme Court case United States v. Lopez, the court ruled that Congress did not have the authority to exercise "Police Power", a power reserved for the states. This case involved a challenge to the Gun-Free School Zones Act, which made it a federal offense to possess a firearm in a school zone. The court held that the act exceeded Congress's power under the Commerce Clause, as it did not have a substantial effect on interstate commerce. This ruling reaffirmed the principle of federalism and the division of powers between the federal government and the states.