 The Power to tax  Taxes are used to provide for public needs (and we have many needs)  Limits on taxing  Can only tax for public purposes or “general Welfare”  Can’t tax exports  Taxes must be levied equally ▪ Indirect taxes, however, are passed on the consumer  Direct taxes must be paid by everyone

 2007, the government collected $2.6 trillion in taxes

 The Power to Borrow  Congress can borrow an unlimited amount of money called deficit financing  The budget for 2008 is $2.9 trillion ▪ Subtract $2.6 trillion in taxes and fees leaves a deficit of $239 billion that has to be financed ▪ The deficit is added to last years debt creating a public debt of $9,448,999,064, as of April 14 th. ▪ $31,000 per person

 The Power to regulate commerce  This clause allows Congress to regulate interstate commerce, which helps build a stronger America ▪ Gibbons v. Ogden (1824) ▪ Civil Rights Act of 1964 ▪ Commerce clause used to justify desegregation in public places ▪ United States v. Lopez (1995) ▪ Court found no connection between interstate commerce and guns at school, this is a state power

 The Power to Coin Money  Printing legal tender is not in hands of state  The power to regulate bankruptcies

 War Powers  Declare war  Raise and support an army  Provide a Navy  Summoning a militia and training it  Naturalization  Establish Post Offices  Copyrights and Patents  Establish standard weights and measures  Judicial Powers (federal crimes)  Counterfeiting  Piracy  treason

EXPRESSED POWER  Lay and collect taxes  Borrow money  Raise armies and a navy  Regulate commerce IMPLIED POWER  Punish tax evaders and regulate the sale of products  Establish banking system  Establish a draft  Create minimum wage, ban discrimination, protect the disabled, regulate banking, and more…