Why must all revenue bills originate in the house of representatives?

Answer 1

Article I, Section 7 states that all revenue bills shall originate in the House of Representatives but the Senate may propose or concur with Amendments as on any other bills. The reason for this is that at the time the Constitution was written, it was felt that Senators would be more wealthy than Representatives and might be willing to spend more government money than the Representatives would. Also, the House with its greater numbers was seen as being the better guage of the wishes of the people for spending measures.

Revenue bills were only to originate in the House because members of the House of Representatives are the only federal officials elected directly by the people. Senators, up until the ratification of the 17th Amendment in 1913, were chosen by the state legislatures. And the president was chosen by the Electoral College. At the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia in 1787 it was felt that, in order for the new federal government to have sufficient legitimacy to gain popular support, it was imperative that at least part of the government would always have a popular mandate. Hence the three words at the beginning of the Constitution are "We the People." This meant that the new government would derive its authority directly from the people and not from state governments.

Answer 2

When the Constitution was written and the this power was established the Senate was made up of members appointed by State Governors. If the Senate generated Revenue Bills they could be viewed by the people as taxation without representation. The Founding Fathers were trying to limit the taxing ability to members of Congress who were elected by popular vote.

Answer 3

At the time the House of Representatives were the only representatives that were elected by the people. The Representatives had to be elected every 2 years and were more responsive to their constituents.

Answer 4

The technical answer is because the constitution requires it. The legislative branch is vested with the powers to make laws and collect taxes, and the House specifically is charged with the duty of raising revenue.

The reason the founder's designed it that way is because the original setup of the US was that of a Federated Republic. Federated because of the two levels of power, state and national, republic because of the design of the spread of power between the different branches of government.

Since revenue affects the people taxed directly, the founders felt that the branch of government closest to the people (the House since it's representatives can be switched out entirely every two years if we wished) should be given the power of the purse. In this they were following, and improving upon, the example they had of England where such power was with the parliament.

Answer 5

Probably because the House of Representatives is more representative of the people, having more specific constituents.

Answer 6

As they are directly elected every two years, House members are presumed to be most responsible to their constituents, who would be impacted by changes in taxes.

Answer 7

Its a concept of checks and balances. The Senate is by the people for the states and the House is for the legislation on the federal level.

Answer 8

To keep the government operational without initiating taxes to do so.

Answer 9

Cameron