Powers of Congress Expressed Powers Tax and Commerce

Powers of Congress

Expressed Powers: Tax and Commerce � Come from Article I Section 8 � Tax- charge levied by government on persons or property to meet public needs ◦ Limits- may not tax church services, can only tax for public purposes � Commerce- trade ◦ Congress can regulate interstate (between the states) and foreign trade ◦ Congress can NOT regulate trade WITHIN a state

Expressed Powers: Borrowing and Currency � Congress has the power to borrow money on the credit of the United States ◦ This is how we have the National debt (Congress spends more than it makes) ◦ National budget deficit- spend more than you make in one year; National debt (all deficits combined) ◦ http: //www. usdebtclock. org/index. html � Congress has the power to coin money and regulate the value of the money

Other Expressed Powers � Foreign relations � Naturalization- allow people to become citizens � Regulate post offices � Copyrights and patents � Create the inferior courts

War Powers � Only Congress may declare war � Congress has power to raise and support an army and navy (give money to)

Constitutional Amendments , Impeachment � Congress may propose amendments with 2/3 vote in each house � House: Writes the bills for impeachments � Senate: Holds the trials of impeachment and votes to convict or acquit ◦ Two presidents (Clinton and Andrew Johnson) have been impeached. Both were acquitted

Electoral Duties � House: Elects president in case of no majority in Electoral College � Senate: Elects Vice president if no candidate gets majority in Electoral College � There is possibility of having Pres. From one party and VP from another

Appointments and Treaties � Senate has power to confirm appointments and nominations of the President ◦ Cabinet, Supreme Court Justices, Federal Judges, other appointed officers � Senate has power to confirm treaties made by Congress- with 2/3 vote