What are the powers of Congress?

Answer 1

To borrow money on the credit of the United States;

To regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among the several States, and with the Indian Tribes;

To establish an uniform Rule of Naturalization, and uniform Laws on the subject of Bankruptcies throughout the United States;

To coin Money, regulate the Value thereof, and of foreign Coin, and fix the Standard of Weights and Measures;

To provide for the Punishment of counterfeiting the Securities and current Coin of the United States;

To establish Post Offices and Post Roads;

To promote the Progress of Science and useful Arts, by securing for limited Times to Authors and Inventors the exclusive Right to their respective Writings and Discoveries;

To constitute Tribunals inferior to the supreme Court;

To define and punish Piracies and Felonies committed on the high Seas, and Offenses against the Law of Nations;

To declare War, grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal, and make Rules concerning Captures on Land and Water;

To raise and support Armies, but no Appropriation of Money to that Use shall be for a longer Term than two Years;

To provide and maintain a Navy;

To make Rules for the Government and Regulation of the land and naval Forces;

To provide for calling forth the Militia to execute the Laws of the Union, suppress Insurrections and repel Invasions;

To provide for organizing, arming, and disciplining the Militia, and for governing such Part of them as may be employed in the Service of the United States, reserving to the States respectively, the Appointment of the Officers, and the Authority of training the Militia according to the discipline prescribed by Congress;

To exercise exclusive Legislation in all Cases whatsoever, over such District (not exceeding ten Miles square) as may, by Cession of particular States, and the acceptance of Congress, become the Seat of the Government of the United States, and to exercise like Authority over all Places purchased by the Consent of the Legislature of the State in which the Same shall be, for the Erection of Forts, Magazines, Arsenals, dock-Yards, and other needful Buildings; And

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.

Answer 2

The powers of Congress, as outlined in the United States Constitution, include the authority to levy and collect taxes, regulate commerce, coin money, establish post offices, declare war, raise and support armies, and make all laws necessary and proper for carrying out these powers. These powers are enumerated in Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution and are known as the enumerated powers. Additionally, Congress also has implied powers derived from the Necessary and Proper Clause, which allows them to make laws that are necessary for executing their enumerated powers.

Answer 3

Here is a pretty comprehensive list (there are like 66 specifically granted powers to the congress, by the articles, and amendments") : Enumerated Powers to Congress by Original Articles of the Constitution

1. Direct census every ten years.

"[…] in such manner as they by law shall direct." Art. I. Sect. 2. Cl. 3.

2. Regulate times, places, and manner of holding elections for congressmen.

"[…] but the Congress may at any time by law make or alter such regulations, […]." Art. I. Sect. 4. Cl. 1.

3. Determine its yearly meeting.

"[…] unless they by law appoint a different day." Art. I. Sect. 4. Cl. 2. (also Art. XX. Sect. 2. of amendment: "[…] unless they shall by law appoint a different day.")

4. Lay and collect taxes for defense and welfare of nation.

"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; but all duties, imposts and excises shall be uniform throughout the United States:" Art. I. Sect. 8. Cl. 1.

5. Borrow money.

"To borrow money on the credit of the United States:" Art. I. Sect. 8. Cl. 2.

6. Regulate foreign, interstate, and Indian commerce.

"To regulate commerce with foreign nations, and among the several states, and with the Indian tribes:" Art. I. Sect. 8. Cl. 3.

7. Establish rules of naturalization.

"To establish an uniform rule of naturalization, […]" Art. I. Sect. 8. Cl. 4.

8. Establish laws on bankruptcy.

"[…] and uniform laws on the subject of bankruptcies throughout the United States:" Art. I. Sect. 8. Cl. 4.

9. Coin money.

"To coin money, […]". Art. I. Sect. 8. Cl. 5.

10. Regulate value of domestic and foreign money.

"[…] regulate the value thereof, and of foreign coin, […]" Art. I. Sect. 8. Cl. 5.

11. Fix standards of weights and measures.

"[…] and fix the standard of weights and measures:" Art. I. Sect. 8. Cl. 5.

12. Define punishments for counterfeiting.

"To provide for the punishment of counterfeiting the securities and current coin of the United States:" Art. I. Sect. 8. Cl. 6.

13. Establish a post service.

"To establish post-offices and post-roads:" Art. I. Sect. 8. Cl. 7.

14. Issue patents and copyrights.

"To promote the progress of science and useful arts, by securing for limited times to authors and inventors the exclusive right to their respective writings and discoveries;" Art. I. Sect. 8. Cl. 8.

15. Establish inferior courts.

"To constitute tribunals inferior to the supreme court:" Art. I. Sect. 8. Cl. 9.

16. Punish crimes in international waters.

"To define and punish piracies and felonies committed on the high seas," Art. I. Sect. 8. Cl. 10.

17. Punish international crimes.

"[…], and offences against the law of nations:" Art. I. Sect. 8. Cl. 10.

18. Declare war.

"To declare war, […]" Art. I. Sect. 8. Cl. 11.

19. Authorize privateers.

"[…] grant letters of marque and reprisal […]" Art. I. Sect. 8. Cl. 11.

20. Make rules for captures.

"[…] and make rules concerning captures on land and water:" Art. I. Sect. 8. Cl. 11.

21. To maintain an army.

"To raise and support armies, […]" Art. I. Sect. 8. Cl. 12.

22. To maintain a navy.

"To provide and maintain a navy:" Art. I. Sect. 8. Cl. 13.

23. Regulate armed services.

"To make rules for the government and regulation of the land and naval forces:" Art. I. Sect. 8. Cl. 14.

24. Call out state militias.

"To provide for calling forth the militia to execute the laws of the union, suppress insurrections and repel invasions;" Art. I. Sect. 8. Cl. 15.

25. Organize state militias with state governments.

"To provide for organizing, arming, and disciplining, the militia, and for governing such part of them as may be employed in the service of the United States, reserving to the states respectively, the appointment of the officers, and the authority of training the militia according to the discipline prescribed by Congress;" Art. I. Sect. 8. Cl. 16.

26. Make laws for the seat of federal government and federal buildings.

"To exercise exclusive legislation in all cases whatsoever, over such District (not exceeding ten miles square) as may, by cession of particular states, and the acceptance of Congress, become the seat of the government of the United States, and to exercise like authority over all places purchased by the consent of the legislature of the state in which the same shall be, for the erection of forts, magazines, arsenals, dockyards, and other needful buildings;-And" Art. I. Sect. 8. Cl. 17.

27. Make laws necessary to carry out enumerated powers.

"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." Art. I. Sect. 8. Cl. 18.

28. Congress determines time of choosing electors and their day of voting in Electoral College.

"The Congress may determine the time of choosing the electors, and the day on which they shall give their votes […]" Art. II. Sect. 1. Cl. 3. (also Art. XXIII. Cl. 1. of amendment: "[…] as Congress may direct:")

29. Congress provides for the successors to the presidency if the President and Vice President die, resign, or are removed.

"[…] and the Congress may by law provide for the case of removal, death, resignation, or inability, both of the President and Vice President, declaring what officer shall then act as President […]" Art. II. Sect. 1. Cl. 5.

30. Congress establishes who appoints certain officers of United States.

"[…] which shall be established by law: but the Congress may by law vest the appointment of such inferior officers […]" Art. II. Sect. 2. Cl. 2.

31. Determines scope of jurisdiction for federal courts.

"[…] with such exceptions, and under such regulations as the Congress shall make." Article III. Sect. 2. Cl. 2.

32. Determine location of trials for federal crimes committed outised of a state.

"[…] but when not committed within any state, the trial shall be at such place or places as the Congress may by law have directed." Art. III. Sect. 2. Cl. 3.

33. Fixes punishment for treason.

"The Congress shall have power to declare the punishment of treason, […]" Art. III. Sect. 3. Cl. 2.

34. Provide for how legal records shall be "proved".

"And the Congress may by general laws prescribe the manner in which such acts, records and proceedings shall be proved, and the effect thereof." Art. IV. Sect. 1.

35. Make all laws for federal lands.

"The Congress shall have power to dispose of and make all needful rules and regulations respecting the territory or other property belonging to the United States; […]" Art. IV. Sect. 3. Cl. 2.

36. Propose amendments to constitution.

"The Congress, whenever two-thirds of both houses shall deem it necessary, shall propose amendments to this constitution, […]" Art. V. Powers Granted to the Houses of Congress by Constitution

1. House of Representatives chooses its speaker and officers.

"The House of Representatives shall choose their speaker and other officers; […]" Art. I. Sect. 2. Cl. 5.

2. House of Representatives has sole power to impeach.

"[…] and shall have the sole power of impeachment." Art. I. Sect. 2. Cl. 5.

3. Senate chooses its officers and president pro tempore.

"The Senate shall choose their other officers, and also a President Pro Tempore, […]" Art. I. Sect. 3. Cl. 5.

4. Senate tries impeachments.

"The Senate shall have the sole power to try all impeachments." Art. I. Sect. 3. Cl. 6.

5. Each house judges elections, returns and qualifications of its members.

"Each House shall be the judge of the elections, returns and qualifications of its own members, […]" Art. I. Sect. 5. Cl. 1.

6. Minority of each house may order a call of their house.

"[…] may be authorized to compel the attendance of absent members, in such manner, and under such penalties as each House may provide." Art. I. Sect. 5. Cl. 1.

7. Each house makes its rules.

"Each House may determine the rules of its proceedings, […]" Art. I. Sect. 5. Cl. 2.

8. Each house can punish its members.

"[…] punish its members for disorderly behavior, […]" Art. I. Sect. 5. Cl. 2.

9. Each house may expel members by a 2/3 vote.

"[…] with the concurrence of two-thirds, expel a member." Art. I. Sect. 5. Cl. 2.

10. Each house may make some of its proceedings secret if needed.

"[…] excepting such parts as may in their judgment require secrecy; […]" Art. I. Sect. 5. Cl. 3.

11. Minority in each house may require that votes be recorded.

"[…] and the yeas and nays of the members of either House on any question shall, at the desire of one-fifth of those present, be entered on the journal." Art. I. Sect. 5. Cl. 3.

12. Both houses must agree on long adjournment.

"Neither House, during the session of Congress, shall , without the consent of the other, adjourn for more than three days, nor to any other place than that in which the two Houses shall be sitting." Art. I. Sect. 5. Cl. 4. Powers Granted to Congress by Amendments

1. House of Representatives chooses president when no winner in electoral college.

"[…] the House of Representatives shall choose immediately, by ballot, the President. But in choosing the President, the votes shall be taken by states, the representation from each state having one vote; […]" Art. XII

2. Senate chooses vice president when no winner in electoral college.

"[…] the Senate shall choose the Vice-President; […]" Art. XII

3. Congress given power to enforce ban on slavery and involuntary servitude in US.

"Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation." Art. XIII. Sect. 1 & 2.

4. Congress may remove disqualification to hold civil or military office to previous traitor by vote of 2/3.

"But Congress may by a vote of two-thirds of each House , remove such disability." Art. XIV. Sect. 3.

(Provisions under Enforcement clause of XIV Amendment, to wit, "The Congress shall have the power to enforce, by appropriate legislation, the provisions of this article." Art. XIV. Sect. 5. ):

5. Congress given power to enforce recognition of citizenship of all persons born in US.

"All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside." Art. XIV. Sect. 1.

6. Congress given power to prohibit state enforcement of laws abridging privileges or immunities of US citizens.

"No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States;" Art. XIV. Sect. 1.

7. Congress given power to prohibit deprivation of life, liberty, or property by state government without due process.

"[…]; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law" Art. XIV. Sect. 1.

8. Congress given power to prohibit denial of equal protection of the laws by state governments.

"[…]; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws." Art. XIV. Sect. 1.

9. Congress given power to reduce representation in House of Representatives to any state that disenfranchises voters in any state or federal election in proportion to the amount of people disenfranchised.

"[…] the basis of representation therein shall be reduced in proportion which the number of such […] citizens shall bear to the whole number of […] citizens […] in such State." Art. XIV. Sect. 2.

(End of Enforcement Clause provisions of XIV Amendment)

10. Congress given power to prohibit denial and abridgement of suffrage to citizens because of race, color, or previous condition of servitude.

"The Congress shall have the power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation." Art. XV. Sect. 2.

11. Congress given power to lay and collect income taxes.

"The Congress shall have power to lay and collect taxes on incomes, […]" Art. XVI

12. Congress given power to prohibit denial and abridgement of suffrage to citizens on account of sex.

"Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation." Art. XIX. Cl. 2.

13. Congress may provide for who shall become president on inauguration day when both the President-elect and Vice President-elect die or for how that person shall be chosen.

"Congress may by law provide for the case wherein neither a President elect nor a Vice President shall have qualified, declaring who shall then act as President, or the manner in which one who is to act shall be selected, […]" Art. XX. Sect. 3.

14. Congress may provide for when the persons who the House of Representatives or Senate have to choose among for President or Vice President, respectively, will have died.

"The Congress may by law provide for the case of the death of the persons from whom the House of Representatives may choose a President whenever the right of choice shall have devolved upon them, and for the case of the death of any of the persons from whom the Senate may choose a Vice President whenever the right of choice shall have devolved upon them." Art. XX. Sect. 4.

15. Congress given power to enforce the right of the district constituting the seat of federal government representation in electoral college.

"The Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation." Art. XXIII. Sect. 2.

16. Congress given power to prohibit denial or abridgement of suffrage in federal elections to citizens on account of failure to pay a tax.

"The Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation." Art. XXIV. Sect. 2.

17. Congress may choose body of persons who, with the Vice President, declare that President is unable to discharge his duties of office when a majority of them and the Vice President declare the same.

"[…] or of such other body as Congress may by law provide, […]" Art. XXV. Sect. 4. Cl. 1 & 2.

18. Congress given power to prohibit denial or abridgement of suffrage to citizens who are 18 years old or older on account of age.

"The Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation." Art. XXVI. Sect. 2.