<P> In the late 20th century, the media became more important in Congress's work . Analyst Michael Schudson suggested that greater publicity undermined the power of political parties and caused "more roads to open up in Congress for individual representatives to influence decisions". Norman Ornstein suggested that media prominence led to a greater emphasis on the negative and sensational side of Congress, and referred to this as the tabloidization of media coverage . Others saw pressure to squeeze a political position into a thirty - second soundbite . A report characterized Congress in 2013 as being unproductive, gridlocked, and "setting records for futility". In October 2013, with Congress unable to compromise, the government was shut down for several weeks and risked a serious default on debt payments, causing 60% of the public to say they would "fire every member of Congress" including their own representative . One report suggested Congress posed the "biggest risk to the US economy" because of its brinksmanship, "down - to - the - wire budget and debt crises" and "indiscriminate spending cuts", resulting in slowed economic activity and keeping up to two million people unemployed . There has been increasing public dissatisfaction with Congress, with extremely low approval ratings which dropped to 5% in October 2013 . </P> <P> Article I of the Constitution creates and sets forth the structure and most of the powers of Congress . Sections One through Six describe how Congress is elected and gives each House the power to create its own structure . Section Seven lays out the process for creating laws, and Section Eight enumerates numerous powers . Section Nine is a list of powers Congress does not have, and Section Ten enumerates powers of the state, some of which may only be granted by Congress . Constitutional amendments have granted Congress additional powers . Congress also has implied powers derived from the Constitution's Necessary and Proper Clause . </P> <P> Congress has authority over financial and budgetary policy through the enumerated power to "lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises, to pay the Debts and provide for the common Defence and general Welfare of the United States". There is vast authority over budgets, although analyst Eric Patashnik suggested that much of Congress's power to manage the budget has been lost when the welfare state expanded since "entitlements were institutionally detached from Congress's ordinary legislative routine and rhythm". Another factor leading to less control over the budget was a Keynesian belief that balanced budgets were unnecessary . </P> <P> The Sixteenth Amendment in 1913 extended congressional power of taxation to include income taxes without apportionment among the several States, and without regard to any census or enumeration . The Constitution also grants Congress the exclusive power to appropriate funds, and this power of the purse is one of Congress's primary checks on the executive branch . Congress can borrow money on the credit of the United States, regulate commerce with foreign nations and among the states, and coin money . Generally, both the Senate and the House of Representatives have equal legislative authority, although only the House may originate revenue and appropriation bills . </P>

Name the powers held by the national government