Congress
Pages | 25-26 |
25
LEGISLATIVE BRANCH
CONGRESS
One Hundred and Thirteenth Congress, First Session
The Congress of the United States was created by Article I, section 1, of the
Constitution, adopted by the Constitutional Convention on September 17, 1787,
providing that “All legislative Powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress of
the United States, which shall consist of a Senate and House of Representatives.”
The fi rst Congress under the Constitution met on March 4, 1789, in the Federal
Hall in New York City. The membership then consisted of 20 Senators and 59
Representatives.
1
Congressional Record Proceedings
of Congress are published in the
Congressional Record, which is issued
each day when Congress is in session.
Publication of the Record began March
4, 1873. It was the fi rst record of debate
offi cially reported, printed, and published
directly by the Federal Government. The
Daily Digest of the Congressional Record,
printed in the back of each issue of the
Record, summarizes the proceedings
of that day in each House and each of
their committees and subcommittees,
respectively. The Digest also presents the
legislative program for each day and, at
the end of the week, gives the program
for the following week. Its publication
was begun March 17, 1947.
Sessions Section 4 of Article I of the
Constitution makes it mandatory that
“The Congress shall assemble at least
once in every Year. . . .” Under this
provision, also, the date for convening
Congress was designated originally as
the fi rst Monday in December, “unless
they shall by Law appoint a different
Day.” Eighteen acts were passed, up
to 1820, providing for the meeting of
Congress on other days of the year.
From 1820 to 1934, however, Congress
met regularly on the fi rst Monday in
December. In 1934 the 20th amendment
changed the convening of Congress to
January 3, unless Congress “shall by law
appoint a different day.” In addition,
the President, according to Article II,
section 3, of the Constitution “may, on
extraordinary Occasions, convene both
Houses, or either of them, and in Case
of Disagreement between them, with
Respect to the Time of Adjournment, he
may adjourn them to such Time as he
shall think proper. . . .”
Powers of Congress Article I, section
8, of the Constitution defi nes the powers
of Congress. Included are the powers
to assess and collect taxes—called the
chief power; to regulate commerce, both
interstate and foreign; to coin money; to
establish post offi ces and post roads; to
establish courts inferior to the Supreme
Court; to declare war; and to raise and
maintain an army and navy. Congress
is further empowered “To provide for
calling forth the Militia to execute the
Laws of the Union, suppress Insurrections
and repel Invasions;” and “To make
all Laws which shall be necessary and
proper for carrying into Execution the
foregoing Powers, and all other Powers
1 New York ratifi ed the Constitution on July 26,
1788, but did not elect its Senators until July 15
and 16, 1789. North Carolina did not ratify the
Constitution until November 21, 1789; Rhode Island
ratifi ed it on May 29, 1790.
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