Question

Which power is shared by the Senate and the House of Representatives?

Answer 1

The Senate and the House of Representatives share various powers, including the creation of legislation, censuring members, establishing their own rules, judging members' qualifications, and the power to lay and collect taxes.

Step-by-step explanation:

One of the powers shared by the Senate and the House of Representatives is the ability to draft and pass legislation. Both chambers must work together to create, debate, and approve bills before they can be sent to the President to become law.

Furthermore, both the Senate and the House have the power to censure their own members, which is a formal statement of disapproval. However, expelling a member requires a two-thirds vote in the chamber that the member belongs to. Additionally, both the Senate and House have the authority to establish their own rules for conducting business and to judge the qualifications of their members.

Another important shared power is the ability to lay and collect taxes, duties, imposts, and excises. This power is crucial for raising revenue to fund the government and support its responsibilities, as outlined in Section 8 of the U.S. Constitution.

Moreover, both chambers have the responsibility to ensure that any order, resolution, or vote (except on a question of adjournment) must be presented to the President and meet with approval or pass by a two-thirds majority if vetoed.

Answer 2

The power shared by the Senate and the House of Representatives is the authority to make laws.

Step-by-step explanation:

The absolute authority to make and approve laws are the most significant power granted by the constitution specifically to the Congress. A law proposed or a new bill introduced becomes a law only after the approval of both the Representatives’ House and the Senate in the same form.

Section 8 of Article-I list the powers of the two houses to be shared with other powers. The more prestigious body is always a Senate as there are only a few senators than representatives and also because the Constitution provides them unique powers.