Chapter 11 The Powers of Congress

bankruptcy

A legal process to get out of debt when you can no longer make all your required payments

patent

A license that gives an inventor the exclusive right to make use or sell an invention for a set period of time

eminent domain

Allows the govt to take property for public use but also requires the govt to provide just compensation for that property

copyright

An exclusive right granted by the federal government allowing the owner to reproduce and sell an artistic or published work.

legal tender

Any kind of money that a creditor must by law accept in payment for debts

appropriates

Assigns to a particular use

necessary and proper clause

Clause of the Constitution (Article 1, Section 8, Clause 3) setting forth the implied powers of Congress. It states that Congress, in addition to its express powers has the right to make all laws necessary and proper to carry out all powers the Constitution vests in the national government.

consensus

General agreement

naturalization

Legal process through which immigrants become U.S. citizens

expressed powers

Powers specifically granted to the federal government by the Constitution. For example, the Constitution gives Congress the power to coin money, impose taxes, and regulate interstate commerce. Also called enumerated powers.

commerce powers

The power of congress to regulate interstate and foreign trade

tax

a charge levied by government on persons or property to raise money to meet public needs

strict constructionists

a person who interprets the Constitution in a way that allows the federal government to take only those actions the Constitution specifically says it can take

public debt

all of the money borrowed by the government and not yet repaid, plus the accrued interest on that money; also called the national debt or federal debt

deficit financing

government policy of spending more money than it is able to bring in through revenues

liberal constructionist

one who argues a broad interpretation of the provisions of the Constitution, particularly those granting powers to the Federal Government

territories

parts of the United States that are not admitted as States and that have their own systems of government, including Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Virgin Islands.

inherent powers

powers that exist for the national government because the government is sovereign

implied powers

the powers exercised by Congress which are not explicitly given by the Constitution itself but necessary and proper to execute the powers which are.