Legislative Branch Essay
Throughout American history, the United States of America has had many changes to their legislative system either for the best or the worst. But every change they have made affects things greatly like declaring war or writing and voting on laws. The legislative branch was established by article one of the constitution. This branch is consisted of the House of Representatives and the Senate which together form the United States Congress. The House of Representatives is made up of four hundred and thirty five elected members and there are six non-voting members that represent the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, United States Virgin Islands, Guam and American Samoa. The Speaker of the House is elected by the Representatives
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“To declare War, grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal, and make Rules concerning Captures on Land and Water; To raise and support Armies, but no Appropriation of Money to that Use shall be for a longer Term than two Years; To provide and maintain a Navy; To make Rules for the Government and Regulation of the land and naval Forces;” (blog.constitutioncenter.org). Meaning the Congress declares war while the president only wages war. Congress has the power to set the rules and behavior expectations for all the branches of the armed forces.Clause eleven is one of Congress's most important and maybe one of its most bizarre powers. Only Congress has the power to declare war and Congress only, the president can not do so. This clause also allows Congress to grant Letters of Marque, which is the power to hire pirates to attack the nation’s enemies. The Founding Fathers were worried about other armies. So, in clause twelve, congress carefully divided the power to control the power of the military between the executive and legislative branches, giving Commander in Chief to the president but only Congress has the authority to either pay or not to pay for military actions. But Congress is not allowed to fund military actions that are two ears into the future. During the years of 1806 and 1951 those rules were contained within the law called the Articles of War. After 1951 they are contained within the Uniform Code of Military Justice, any sailor or soldier who fails to follow these rules are required to face a court
“To declare War, grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal, and make Rules concerning Captures on Land and Water; To raise and support Armies, but no Appropriation of Money to that Use shall be for a longer Term than two Years; To provide and maintain a Navy; To make Rules for the Government and Regulation of the land and naval Forces;” (blog.constitutioncenter.org). Meaning the Congress declares war while the president only wages war. Congress has the power to set the rules and behavior expectations for all the branches of the armed forces.Clause eleven is one of Congress's most important and maybe one of its most bizarre powers. Only Congress has the power to declare war and Congress only, the president can not do so. This clause also allows Congress to grant Letters of Marque, which is the power to hire pirates to attack the nation’s enemies. The Founding Fathers were worried about other armies. So, in clause twelve, congress carefully divided the power to control the power of the military between the executive and legislative branches, giving Commander in Chief to the president but only Congress has the authority to either pay or not to pay for military actions. But Congress is not allowed to fund military actions that are two ears into the future. During the years of 1806 and 1951 those rules were contained within the law called the Articles of War. After 1951 they are contained within the Uniform Code of Military Justice, any sailor or soldier who fails to follow these rules are required to face a court