Limits on Congress’ Powers
**Congress cannot:
1. Favor one state over another
2. Tax interstate commerce
3. Tax exports (products shipped out of the U.S.)
4. Violate powers that are reserved for the states
**Congress can not suspend writ of habeas corpus
(A court order requiring the police to take a person they’re
holding to court and explain why they are being held)
** Congress can not pass bills of attainder
(Laws that punish someone without a jury trial)
**Congress can not pass ex post facto laws
(“After the fact” – laws that make an act or crime after the act
has been committed)
Other limits on Congress (checks and balances):
1. The president can veto any bill.
2. The Supreme Court can declare any law unconstitutional