Warm Up Explain why it is important for the powers of Congress to be explained in the Constitution.

Wednesday, October 28, 2015 Objective: Students will be able to analyze the expressed powers of Congress. Materials needed: notebook, pen/pencil, 1 sheet of paper for ranking activity at the end of class

What Congress Cannot Do Congress has only those powers that the Constitution gives it Expressed powers: those delegated powers of the National Government that are spelled out, expressly, in the Constitution 2 expressed powers (power to tax and to regulate interstate commerce) have evolved over time to include new powers for Congress

The Commerce Power Commerce Power: exclusive power of Congress to regulate interstate and foreign trade The Supreme Court's definition of interstate commerce has expanded federal authority into many areas of American life Examples: Gibbons v. Ogden, Heart of Atlanta Motel v. United States Limits: the commerce power cannot be used to violate other laws, cannot tax exports, cannot tax domestic trade

The Money Powers Congress has the power to tax Borrowing Power We haves taxes to spend money on programs and services that meet the needs of the public and not for the needs of private citizens Taxes are also sometimes levied to protect the public health and safety Borrowing Power Congress has the authority to allow the government to borrow money and raise the debt limit Coining money

Other Domestic Powers Issuing Copyrights and Patents Power to establish Post Offices and Post roads Congress has the power to acquire, manage, and dispose of various federal areas, as well as to admit new states Power to create Federal courts Power to define federal crimes

Congress and Foreign Policies Power to regulate immigration system and set criteria for entrance into the United States Power to make laws needed to combat terrorism here and abroad Power to fund U.S. military and diplomatic missions abroad

The War Powers Resolution The President can commit American military forces to combat abroad only… If Congress has declared war When Congress has specifically authorized a military action When an attack on the United States or any of its armed forces has occurred The President has to tell Congress within 48 hours if he deploys troops as a result of this Any deployment of troops into combat longer than 60 days must be approved by Congress

Ranking of Expressed Powers Rank five expressed powers of Congress in order of importance from 1 (most important) to 5 (least important) Explain why you ranked each power as you did