In the matter of passing a health care bill we have seen the Constitution's checks and balances at work. First we are seeing that a bill must pass both houses. A bill that requires an expenditure must originate in the House of Representatives and eventually we will see that the bill must pass both houses of Congress in exactly the same form. Here are some questions regarding this issue and the Constitution.
1. Can the President introduce a bill into either house of Congress? (yes/no)
2. Why must bills requiring an appropriation of money be first introduced into the House of Representatives? Sorry no choices here. You will have to ponder this one for awhile, but I will give you a hint. The House represents the people of the U.S. and the Senate represents the States of the U.S. Hope that helps!
3. Does the Constitution have wording that allows for the U.S. Government to provide health care for its citizens?
a. Yes, in those exact words
b. Yes, in words that can be interpreted to allow the government this power
c. No
4. From what clause of the Constitution can powers of the U.S. Government be interpreted?
a. The Federal Powers Clause
b. The The Inherent Clause
c. The Police Powers Clause
d. The Necessary and Proper Clause
5. In which Article of the Constitution can the above clause be found?
a. Articlce One
b. Article Two
c. Article Four
d. Article Six
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2. Who pays the taxes? Right, the people. So the representatives of the people (the House of Representatives) must introduce a bill that would raise or create a tax. This concept goes all the way back the the Magna Carta and the very first House of Commons.
3. Not in so many words, but the Necessary and Proper Clause (Elastic Clause) allows the U.S. Government to do that which is necessary and proper to carry out the expressed powers of the Constitution. The powers that are not worded in so many words are called the implied powers. The question than might be what is the expressed power that is being carried out by Congress in providing health care for its citizens. Read and think. This is where one must have read the Constitution. The answer does not take long to find if you start from the beginning.
4. aha, looke to the explanation for the ansewr to #3. The Necessary and Proper Clause
5. a is the answer. Specifically Article One, Section 8, Clause 18. I spent a lot of time in the classroom teaching the ins and outs of this particular clause. This clause provides the basic difference between a Conservative and a Liberal. Can you see how this works to define the two?
I taught 12 grade Social, llth grade World History, 10th grade American History for 30 years. 8th grade geography and 7th grade American History for ten years. Notice I never taught 9th grad Civics. Clearly that had something to do with my inability to pass your Constitution tests, Bill. :)
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