Legislative Powers

“Legislative powers” means “having the function of making laws.” Only Congress is given all powers to make or enact laws. NOT the courts, NOT the president or the governors.

The Constitution sets up a bicameral system with two branches or legislative bodies instead of one. England has had two Houses for centuries—the House of Lords and the House of Commons.

The House of Lords, considered the “upper house” (as is the Senate) is, unlike the Senate, comprised of nonelected “lords temporal and lords spiritual.” (Unfortunately some of our Senators tend to act rather lordly.)

Our House of Representatives, like the House of Commons, is considered the “lower house.” Both of these bodies are comprised of elected representatives.

The original intent of our bicameral system was to have individual states equally represented at the national level by two Senators but also to have individuals equally represented in the House by population. When Senators and Representatives put their constituents, their states, and their nation first, laws can be made with the general welfare in mind.

When these men and women misuse their offices to gain wealth, influence, and power, our nation suffers. The focus has become “re-election” rather than public service. Let’s help our elected officials remember what they are supposed to be doing by holding them accountable. Each of us has two Senators and one Representative. Surely we can keep track of and keep in contact with three people on a regular basis?

“The moral principles and precepts contained in the Scripture ought to form the basis of all our civil constitutions and laws. All the miseries and evil men suffer from vice, crime, ambition, injustice, oppression, slavery, and war, proceed from their despising or neglecting the precepts contained in the Bible.” --Noah Webster