Question

Describe two limits on the powers of Congress.



Besides making laws, describe two other roles or responsibilities of Congress.

Answer 1

Two limits on the powers of Congress
- Presidential veto: The President can veto bills passed by Congress. Congress can only override a veto with a two‑thirds vote in both the House and the Senate, which is a high threshold.
- Constitutional limits and judicial review: The Constitution itself restricts what Congress may do (e.g., it may not pass bills of attainder or ex post facto laws, and it must respect the Bill of Rights). The federal courts, especially the Supreme Court, can review and strike down laws that are unconstitutional.

Two other roles or responsibilities of Congress (besides making laws)
- Oversight and investigation: Congress monitors the executive branch and federal agencies through hearings, subpoenas, investigations, and, when warranted, impeachment of federal officials.
- Budgetary and fiscal powers: Congress controls taxation, appropriations, and borrowing (the “power of the purse”), deciding how federal money is raised and spent.