Power of Congress

McCulloch v. Maryland

A U.S. Supreme Court case in which Chief Justice John Marshall established that the federal government has "implied powers" to carry out, without state interference, any and all rights given by the Constitution.

Limits on Congress' Powers

Limits on Congress. Article I, Section 9, of the Constitution places three important limits on Congress and its powers. Congress cannot. pass ex post facto laws, which outlaw acts after they have already been committed. pass bills of attainder, which punish individuals outside of the court system.

Commerce Power

The Commerce Clause describes an enumerated power listed in the United States Constitution (Article I, Section 8, Clause 3). The clause states that the United States Congress shall have power "To regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among the several States, and with the Indian Tribes

Removal Power (impeach)

The House of Representatives has the sole power of impeaching, while the United States Senate has the sole power to try all impeachments. The removal of impeached officials is automatic upon conviction in the Senate.

Taxing and Spending Power

The Taxing and Spending Clause (which contains provisions known as the General Welfare Clause and the Uniformity Clause), Article I, Section 8, Clause 1 of the United States Constitution, grants the federal government of the United States its power of taxation.

Implied Powers

This "Necessary and Proper Clause" (sometimes also called the "Elastic Clause") grants Congress a set of so-called implied powers—that is, powers not explicitly named in the Constitution but assumed to exist due to their being necessary to implement the expressed powers that are named in Article I.

Patent

a government authority or license conferring a right or title for a set period, especially the sole right to exclude others from making, using, or selling an invention.

Necessary and Proper Clause

allows Congress "To make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into Execution the [enumerated] Powers, and all other Powers vested by this Constitution in the Government of the United States, or in any Department or Officer thereof." (Article I, Section 8, Clause 18).

expressed powers

are powers granted to the government mostly found in Article I, Section 8 of the US Constitution within 18 clauses. Expressed powers, also known as the "enumerated powers," include the power to coin money, regulate foreign and interstate commerce, declare wPar, grant patents and copyrights and more.

Confirmation Power

is the authority given by the U.S. Constitution to the Senate to ratify treaties and confirm presidential cabinet, ambassadorial, and judicial appointments

Copyright

the exclusive legal right, given to an originator or an assignee to print, publish, perform, film, or record literary, artistic, or musical material, and to authorize others to do the same.

Impeach

to accuse (a public official) before an appropriate tribunal of misconduct in office.