The Powers of Congress

The Powers of Congress - Reading Comprehension
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The Powers of Congress
By Phyllis Naegeli

¹     In the Constitution, the powers granted to the Congress fall into three categories - expressed, implied, and special.

²     Expressed (or delegated) powers are specific authorities granted to the lawmaking body of our government. These specific powers allow the Congress to create the laws necessary to run our country. Expressed powers fall into the following categories:

³

1) Fiscal Power

The Congress is responsible for levying and collecting taxes. This money is used to pay our country's debts and to provide for the defense and well-being of our nation. Congress controls borrowing money and coining and printing currency. They also establish standards for weights and measures and punish counterfeiters.

2) Trade Regulation

The Congress holds the power to regulate foreign and interstate trade. However, they cannot make a law, which would give an advantage in trade between two or more states.

3) Military Power

The Congress is responsible for defending our country by establishing a military force. The organization, arming, establishment of military laws - and seeing that military laws are enforced, belongs to Congress. Military power is shared with the president who is considered the Commander in Chief. However, the power to declare war is granted to the Congress.

4) Other Powers

Congress is also responsible for establishing rules for citizenship in the United States. They are required to maintain a post office, make laws for copyrights and patents, and govern the District of Columbia. The Constitution also granted the power to establish our federal court system to the Congress.