18 ENUMERATED POWERS OF CONGRESS

where are the 18 enumerated powers explicitly stated?

Article I, Section 8 in the Constitution

what are the 18 enumerated powers? what is the job of the legislative branch?

a foundational list of explicit authorities granted by the U.S. Constitution, primarily in Article I, Section 8, defining the legislative branch's specific responsibilities to limit its power and establish a government of limited powers within a federal system

- legislative branch's primary role is to make laws through Congress (HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES + SENATE)

- holds significant powers including regulating commerce, declaring war, controlling government spending, and confirming Presidential appointments

enumerated power 1

power to TAX AND SPEND for the general welfare and the common defense

- congress may raise revenue and spend it for the general welfare and common defense

- the federal government has the authority to collect taxes and use that money for the country's needs, such as its military and public services

enumerated power 2

power to BORROW MONEY

- congress can borrow money on the credit of the US

- the government can take out loans and issue debt to finance its activities

enumerated power 3

to regulate COMMERCE with states, other nations, and Native American tribes

- allows Congress to make rules for trade and business that cross state lines or involve foreign countries, or with Native American tribes which are a classified as a separate, sovereign nation by US government

- Congress regulates trades

enumerated power 4

establish CITIZENSHIP NATURALIZATION and BANKRUPTCY laws

- congress creates uniform rules for citizenship and bankruptcy

- allows Congress to create one consistent set of rules for who can become an American citizen + what happens when persons/businesses can't pay their debts

enumerated power 5

COIN MONEY

- congress mints money and sets its value

- it's Congress's job to control and manage the nation's currency, including the creation of its value, manufacturing money (coins), and the establishment of national standard for weights and measures, ensuring consistency across the nation

enumerated power 6

power to PUNISH COUNTERFEITERS of money and stocks

- congress punishes those who counterfeit US money and securities (fraudulent imitation of a genuine item, such as money, documents, or luxury goods, made with the intent to deceive or defraud)

- congress has the power to make laws and enforce penalties against people who illegally copy or forge American money and official documents

enumerated power 7

power to establish POST OFFICES and ROADS

- congress establishes a postal system and postal roads

- constitutional basis for the United States Postal Service and its ability to deliver mail throughout the country

- create and maintain roads mail is delivered on, set up places where mail is picked up/dropped off

enumerated power 8

power to regulate PATENTS and COPYRIGHTS

- congress protects inventions and creative works

- congress's power to grant exclusive rights to authors and inventors for a limited time to promote science and the arts

enumerated power 9

power to establish LOWER COURTS from the Supreme Court

- congress creates lower federal courts under the supreme court

- gives congress the power to create a system of lower federal courts that are subordinate to the Supreme Court

enumerated power 10

power to establish PIRACY LAWS of the SEA

- congress defines and punishes piracy and crimes at sea

- gives congress the authority to pass laws that define and punish piracy and other crimes committed on the "high seas"

enumerated power 11

to DECLARE WAR

- congress has the sole authority to declare war

- congress has the authority to formally decide to go to war, authorize privateering (granting letters to private ships to capture enemy vessels), and make laws about seizing enemy property during wartime

enumerated power 12

power to raise and support ARMY

- congress raises and funds the army

enumerated power 13

provide and maintain the NAVY

- congress provides and maintains the navy

- congress has the power to create, fund, and oversee the nation's naval forces

enumerated power 14

make RULES FOR GOVERNMENT and the REGULATION OF NAVAL FORCES

- congress makes rules for governing the armed forces

- to make rules for the government, and regulation of the land and naval forces

enumerated power 15

power to CALL A MILITIA (national guard)

- congress can call forth the militia, in modern days: national guard

enumerated power 16

power of REGULATING A MILITIA

- congress regulates how militias are organized and trained

- provide for organizing, arming, and disciplining

enumerated power 17

power to GOVERN DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA (Washington D.C.) AND PROPERTIES for federal government purposes

- congress governs the capital and federal properties

- this provision grants congress exclusive legislative power "in all cases whatsoever" over the federal capital

enumerated power 18

authority to create laws that are NECESSARY AND PROPER to carry out the laws of the land

- NECESSARY AND PROPER CLAUSE

- to make all laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into Execution the foregoing Powers, and all other Powers vested by this Constitution in the Government of the United States, or in any Department or Officer thereof

- congress may make all laws necessary and proper to carry out its powers

what is the NECESSARY AND PROPER CLAUSE (enumerated power 18)?

grants congress the authority to make laws that are "necessary and proper" for executing its enumerated powers

- gives congress implied powers beyond those specifically listed, allowing it to adapt to evolving needs and exercise governmental authority not explicitly detailed in the Constitution

enumerated power 1 (key)

tax and spend

enumerated power 2 (key)

borrow $

enumerated power 3 (key)

commerce

enumerated power 4 (key)

citizenship and bankruptcy

enumerated power 5 (key)

coin money

enumerated power 6 (key)

punish counterfeiters

enumerated power 7 (key)

post offices and roads

enumerated power 8 (key)

patents and copyrights

enumerated power 9 (key)

lower courts

enumerated power 10 (key)

piracy

enumerated power 11 (key)

declare war

enumerated power 12 (key)

raise + support army

enumerated power 13 (key)

provide + maintain navy

enumerated power 14 (key0

rules for government + regulation of naval forces

enumerated power 15 (key)

call a militia

enumerated power 16 (key)

regulating a militia

enumerated power 17 (key)

govern District of Columbia + properties

enumerated power 18 (key)

necessary and proper clause