... shall in all Cases, except Treason, Felony and Breach of the Peace, be privileged from Arrest during their attendance at the Session of their Respective Houses, and in going to and from the same; and for any Speech or Debate in either House, they shall not be questioned in any other Place .
What are Congress members forbidden from doing?
- pass ex post facto laws, which outlaw acts after they have already been committed.
- pass bills of attainder, which punish individuals outside of the court system.
- suspend the writ of habeas corpus, a court order requiring the federal government to charge individuals arrested for crimes.
What are some restrictions on being a member of Congress?
— U.S. Constitution, Article I, section 2, clause 2
The Constitution requires that Members of the House be at least 25 years old, have been a U.S. citizen for at least seven years, and live in the state they represent (though not necessarily the same district).
What is Article 1 Section 8 of the Constitution?
The Congress shall have Power To lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises , to pay the Debts and provide for the common Defence and general Welfare of the United States; but all Duties, Imposts and Excises shall be uniform throughout the United States; 1 Taxing Power. ...
What does the speech and debate clause protect?
Speech and debate clause protects Congress members from lawsuits over legislative speech . The general purpose of the speech and debate clause is to protect members of Congress from having to worry that anything they say in the course of legislative activities will implicate them in a lawsuit.
What does the Constitution say Congress Cannot do?
What are things Congress cannot do? Expost facto laws (Congress cannot make a law and then charge somebody who already did it in the past). Writ of habeas corpus (Congress cannot arrest and charge someone without evidence of said crime). Bill of Attainder (Congress cannot jail someone without a trail).
What are 8 powers denied to Congress?
No state shall enter into any treaty, alliance, or confederation ; grant letters of marque and reprisal; coin money; emit bills of credit; make anything but gold and silver coin a tender in payment of debts; pass any bill of attainder, ex post facto law, or law impairing the obligation of contracts, or grant any title ...
What is the current salary of a member of Congress?
The compensation for most Senators, Representatives, Delegates, and the Resident Commissioner from Puerto Rico is $174,000. These levels have remained unchanged since 2009. Subsequent scheduled annual adjustments were denied by P.L. 111-8 (enacted March 11, 2009), P.L.
Can Congress refuse to seat an elected member?
However, the U.S. Supreme Court, in Powell v. McCormack (1969), limited the powers of the Congress to refuse to seat an elected member to when the individual does not meet the specific constitutional requirements of age, citizenship or residency.
Who is the longest serving member of the House of Representatives?
With more than 59 years of service, Representative John Dingell, Jr., of Michigan, holds the record for longest consecutive service.
What is Article 1 Section 7 of the Constitution about?
Article I, Section 7 of the Constitution creates certain rules to govern how Congress makes law . Its first Clause—known as the Origination Clause—requires all bills for raising revenue to originate in the House of Representatives. ... Any other type of bill may originate in either the Senate or the House.
What is Article 9 of the US Constitution?
Article 1, Section 9 of the U.S. Constitution places limits on the powers of Congress , the Legislative Branch. These restrictions include those on limiting the slave trade, suspending civil and legal protections of citizens, apportionment of direct taxes, and granting titles of nobility.
What is Article 1 Section 9 of the Constitution?
No Title of Nobility shall be granted by the United States : And no Person holding any Office of Profit or Trust under them, shall, without the Consent of the Congress, accept of any present, Emolument, Office, or Title, of any kind whatever, from any King, Prince, or foreign State.
Can a member of Congress hold another position in government at the same time?
The Ineligibility Clause (sometimes also called the Emoluments Clause, or the Incompatibility Clause, or the Sinecure Clause) is a provision in Article 1, Section 6, Clause 2 of the United States Constitution that makes each incumbent member of Congress ineligible to hold an office established by the federal government ...
Who can discipline a member of Congress?
The United States Constitution (Article I, Section 5, Clause 2) provides that “Each House [of Congress] may determine the Rules of its proceedings, punish its members for disorderly behavior, and, with the concurrence of two-thirds, expel a member.” The processes for expulsion differ somewhat between the House of ...
What is the free speech clause?
It guarantees freedom of expression by prohibiting Congress from restricting the press or the rights of individuals to speak freely . It also guarantees the right of citizens to assemble peaceably and to petition their government.
