What about the debate over who is more important, the president or Congress? If the bill is approved by both houses, it goes to the President for his signature. Within 10 days, the President must either sign it, approve it, or reject it with a veto. If rejected, the bill obediently returns to the House of Representatives, where it is reconsidered. Remarkably, Congressmen would no longer need a simple majority, but a two-thirds vote to pass it. If these votes are collected, the law goes back to the Senate, where it, too, must reach two-thirds. If the task is accomplished, the law is passed despite the president’s dissent.
Accordingly, many initiatives coming from the president, especially those related to foreign policy, can also be blocked by Congress, but not by a simple majority. More often than not, the Supreme Court also gets involved in such disputes. This is how checks and balances work.
Congress has permanent and temporary commissions and committees. An example of permanent, extremely important committees is the economics committee, and the taxation committee.
As a rule, both houses of Congress sit openly, but there are “closed-door” sessions. These matters are decided by a preliminary vote. In the rooms where senators and congressmen sit, there are separate boxes for journalists and television reporters.
The U.S. Congress has the power to impeach civilian officials, including the president and vice president, on impeachment convictions. The House of Representatives, and only it, has the power to prosecute an official, conduct investigations, and formulate charges. Only the Senate exercises judicial functions. The consent of 2/3 of the senators present is necessary for conviction. If a person is convicted, the senate can impose on him the only punishment, namely, removal from office. after which the person can be prosecuted on general grounds. In addition to the powers listed above, Congress has other powers.
The U.S. Constitution provides for the possibility of a special procedure – impeachment – by a parliamentary court with possible dismissal of the President and other officials.
The impeachment procedure consists of the following stages:
– A legal committee of the House of Representatives of Congress advances an impeachment initiative;
– After a debate, the House of Representatives, by a simple majority of the total number of members of the House, decides to file charges against the official and bring him before the Senate, with specific charges being formulated – “articles of impeachment”;
– An impeachment case is heard by the Senate as an ordinary court case;
– The Senate acts as a jury trial;
– without discussion, the Senate decides the guilt of the official on each count of impeachment;
– The decision on guilt is made by a 2/3 majority of the total number of senators;
– If at least one of the charges receives the vote of 67 senators, the impeachment is considered valid and the official resigns from office.
The Houses of Congress have their own structure. It should be noted here that committees play the most important role in congressional activity. A distinction is made between standing committees and specialized committees, they are established in both houses, each committee specializing in a different area of government. Their main task is to prepare legislative acts, up to 90% of the acts prepared are approved by both chambers. In addition, standing committees oversee the activities of government federal agencies, conduct investigations.
Hold hearings on any issues affecting the committees’ interests. Committee chairs are powerful figures in Congress. Ad hoc committees are established to serve a specific purpose. Joint committees of both houses are created.