Expressed Powers of Congress
I.
____________________
A. Types of taxes:
1. _________________ - a tax paid by the person on whom it is imposed.
2. _________________ (excise tax) - tax first paid by the manufacturer,
then passed on to the buyer.
B. Restrictions on taxes - Congress cannot tax:
1. ___________________
2. ___________________
II.
____________________ - Congress must often borrow money to pay for key
programs.
A. Areas of federal spending over the last 25 years:
1. National Defense - _____%
2. Social Security - _____%
3. Welfare - _____%
4. Education - _____%
B. Government needs to control taxing and borrowing to control the debt.
1. ________________ - more money spent than made
2. ________________ - more money made than spent
III.
___________________ - gives Congress the power to coin money
A. Early in U.S. history, currency had many problems:
1. __________________________________________________
2. __________________________________________________
3. __________________________________________________
B. _________________ - money that must be accepted as payment for a debt.
1. Congress did not issue paper money as legal tender until 1862.
IV.
___________________
A. Consists of 6 powers, including the right to declare war, raise an army, maintain a
navy, and call forth the militia.
B. __________________________ - limited the President’s war powers after the
Vietnam War. The President may send troops into combat, but:
1. The President must report to Congress within ___________ of
committing troops to combat.
2. Combat must end within ____________ unless Congress agrees to
lengthen it.
3. Congress may end combat at any time by passing a resolution.
V.
________________________ - gives Congress the power to acquire, manage, and
dispose of various federal areas.
A. Includes territories, such as:
1. _______________
2. _______________
3. _______________
4. _______________
B. Includes interior areas, such as:
1. _______________
2. _______________
3. _______________
4. _______________
C. ___________________ - the power of the government to take private land for
public use.
VI.
Postal Powers
VI.
Naturalization
VII.
Weights and Measures
VIII.
Patent and Copyrights
IX.
Regulate Commerce
Expressed Powers of Congress
X.
Tax
A. Types of taxes:
1. direct tax - a tax paid by the person on whom it is imposed.
2. indirect tax - (excise tax) - tax first paid by the manufacturer, then
passed on to the buyer.
B. Restrictions on taxes - Congress cannot tax:
1. church services
2. exports
XI.
Borrow - Congress must often borrow money to pay for key programs.
A. Areas of federal spending over the last 25 years:
1. National Defense - 25%
2. Social Security - 21%
3. Welfare - 13%
4. Education - 4%
B. Government needs to control taxing and borrowing to control the debt.
1. deficit - more money spent than made
2. surplus - more money made than spent
XII.
Currency - gives Congress the power to coin money
A. Early in U.S. history, currency had many problems:
1. Issued paper money that was not backed by gold or silver
2. States printed their own “money”
3. People still used English money (shilling and pound)
B. Legal tender - money that must be accepted as payment for a debt.
1. Congress did not issue paper money as legal tender until 1862.
XIII.
War Powers
A. Consists of 6 powers, including the right to declare war, raise an army, maintain a
navy, and call forth the militia.
B. War Powers Resolution - limited the President’s war powers after the Vietnam
War. The President may send troops into combat, but:
1. The President must report to Congress within 48 hours of committing
troops to combat.
2. Combat must end within 60 days unless Congress agrees to lengthen it.
3. Congress may end combat at any time by passing a resolution.
XIV. Power over territories and areas - gives Congress the power to acquire, manage, and
dispose of various federal areas.
A. Includes territories, such as:
1. Puerto Rico
2. Guam
3. Virgin Islands
4. Washington D.C.
B. Includes interior areas, such as:
1. national parks
2. Native American reservations
3. military instillations
4. post offices
C. Eminent Domain - the power of the government to take private land for public
use.