The Powers of Congress
By Phyllis Naegeli
In the Constitution, the powers granted to the Congress fall into three categories expressed, implied, and special.
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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:
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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.
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2) Trade Regulation
The Congress holds the power to regulate foreign and interstate trade. However, they cannot
make a law that would give an advantage in trade between two or more states.
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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.
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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.
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Within the expressed powers of Congress granted in the Constitution, the words
"make laws necessary and proper" created implied powers for the Congress. These
words became known as the elastic clause. Over the years, this clause has been used
by Congress to expand its powers. Congress handles situations that the Founding
Fathers would never have dreamed of under this wording. The Congress has used its
implied powers to create military academies, form a national bank, and investigate
misconduct by government officials.
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Even though the elastic clause has been used to expand Congressional power, the
powers of Congress are still limited in many ways. The president has veto power, and
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the Supreme Court determines whether laws are in agreement with the Constitution.
Congress has also been granted special powers in the Constitution. It is responsible
for the impeachment of high-ranking government officials who commit a crime against
the country. Charges are made by the House, while the Senate acts as the court in an
impeachment proceeding. In addition, the Senate is given the power of approving
treaties and presidential appointments. The House of Representatives also has a
special job. In a presidential election where a candidate does not receive a majority of
the electoral votes, the House meets to choose the next President.
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The Founding Fathers gave the Legislative Branch specific powers to provide for the
needs of our nation. In addition, they made sure that this branch would not have
unlimited powers that could change the freedom of our country. The many long hours
spent writing our Constitution has assured our liberty for more than two hundred years.
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Copyright © 2012 edHelper
Name _____________________________
Date ___________________
The Powers of Congress
1. Which is an expressed power of
Congress?
Levy taxes
Impeach county officials
Control banks
Form military academies
2. Military power is shared between the
Congress and the president.
False
True
3. The Congress makes laws to govern the 4. Which of the following occurred because
District of Columbia.
of the elastic clause? (choose all that
apply)
False
Military academies were formed
True
A post office was formed
The Congress began coining and
printing money
The federal court system was
formed
5. The powers granted to Congress are
limited by the president's ability to veto
bills.
False
True
6. Which house of Congress serves as the
court in an impeachment?
The House
The Senate
7. Congress must make laws for copyrights 8. Which type of power is the power to
and patents. Which type of power is
investigate misconduct by a government
this?
official?
Expressed
Expressed
Implied
Implied
Special
Special
None of the above
None of the above
Name _____________________________
Date ___________________
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POCKETVETO
CENSUS
OVERRIDE
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ELASTICCLAUSE
CLOTURE
WHIP
IMPEACHMENT
DEBATE
VETO
CONSTITUENTS
TRADE
Down
1. the process of openly discussing a bill in
Congress
4. the process of bringing charges against a
government official in order to remove
them from office
5. the people who live in a district of a state
and have one representative to the House
6. the process of the president rejecting a
bill by doing nothing when Congress has
adjourned during the ten-day review
period (2 words)
Across
2. the buying, selling, and exchange of
goods between two or more parties
3. an assistant to the leaders in Congress
who discuss bills with other members
7. the portion of the Constitution that gives
implied powers to Congress (2 words)
8. a formal calculation of the population in a
country
9. a vote by the legislature to negate the
veto of a law
10.presidential rejection of a bill passed by
Congress
11.an agreement made by sixty Senators to
set a time limit on debating a bill
The Powers of Congress
By Phyllis Naegeli
Directions: Fill in each blank with the word that best completes the reading
comprehension.
Copyright © 2012 edHelper
Name _____________________________
Date ___________________
The Powers of Congress
1. Which is an expressed power of
Congress?
Levy taxes
Impeach county officials
Control banks
Form military academies
2. Military power is shared between the
Congress and the president.
False
True
3. The Congress makes laws to govern the 4. Which of the following occurred because
District of Columbia.
of the elastic clause? (choose all that
apply)
False
The Congress began coining and
True
printing money
The federal court system was
formed
Military academies were formed
A post office was formed
5. The powers granted to Congress are
limited by the president's ability to veto
bills.
False
True
6. Which house of Congress serves as the
court in an impeachment?
The House
The Senate
7. Congress must make laws for copyrights 8. Which type of power is the power to
and patents. Which type of power is
investigate misconduct by a government
this?
official?
Expressed
Expressed
Implied
Implied
Special
Special
None of the above
None of the above
The Powers of Congress - Answer Key
1a
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
True
True
Military academies were formed
True
The Senate
Expressed
Implied
The Powers of Congress
By Phyllis Naegeli
Answer Key
Answers to Reading Comprehension Questions
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
True
True
Military academies were formed
True
The Senate
Expressed
Implied