Which is a true statement about the power of congress?
A. Congress may overrule the Bill of Rights
B. Congress may pass any law necessary and proper to carry out its enumerated powers
C. Congress may overrule decisions of federal judges
D. Congress may override a presidential veto by a simple majority vote
B. Congress may pass any law necessary and proper to carry out its enumerated powers
The true statement about the power of Congress is B. Congress may pass any law necessary and proper to carry out its enumerated powers.
To arrive at this answer, we can eliminate options A and C:
A. Congress may overrule the Bill of Rights: This statement is false. The Bill of Rights is a set of ten amendments to the United States Constitution that specifically protects individual rights and liberties. It is designed to limit the power of Congress and the government, so Congress does not have the authority to overrule the Bill of Rights.
C. Congress may overrule decisions of federal judges: This statement is also false. The Constitution establishes a system of checks and balances among the three branches of the federal government - legislative, executive, and judicial. While Congress has the power to create laws, it does not have the authority to directly overrule decisions made by federal judges, who belong to the judicial branch. The power to review and potentially overturn judicial decisions lies primarily with the judicial branch itself, specifically with higher-level courts, such as the Supreme Court.
Now let's consider option D:
D. Congress may override a presidential veto by a simple majority vote: This statement is partially true. Under the United States Constitution, if the President vetoes a bill passed by both houses of Congress, Congress has the power to override the veto. However, a simple majority vote is not enough to override a presidential veto. Instead, Congress would need a two-thirds majority vote in both the House of Representatives and the Senate to override the veto, as specified in Article I, Section 7 of the Constitution.
This leaves us with option B:
B. Congress may pass any law necessary and proper to carry out its enumerated powers: This is a true statement. The Necessary and Proper Clause, also known as the Elastic Clause, is found in Article I, Section 8 of the United States Constitution. It grants Congress the power to make all laws necessary and proper for carrying out its enumerated powers. This clause has been interpreted broadly by the courts, giving Congress the authority to pass laws that are deemed necessary and proper to implement its constitutional powers.