1. What powers does Congress have?
Article I Section 8-10

2. Powers given to Congress
To tax and pay debts
all taxes must be uniform in U.S.
To borrow money
To regulate trade
Naturalization and bankruptcies
become a citizen, cannot pay debts
Money, weights and measures
Counterfeiting
Postal Service
allowed the development of interstates

3. Powers given to Congress
Copyrights and patents
copyrights - literary, musical or artistic works (life plus 50 years)
patents - inventions (17 years)
Can set up federal courts less powerful than Supreme Court
Crimes at sea
Declarations of war - only Congress can declare war
Create and support an army
power to enact a draft

4. Powers given to Congress
Create and support a navy
Make rules for the military
Command state militia (national guard)
To regulate state national guards
To establish the capital city and federally owned lands - chose Washington DC
To make laws needed to carry out the Constitution and govern the nation
elastic clause- gives Congress the power it needs

5. Powers Denied to Congress
Could not prohibit slave trading until 1808
became obsolete with 13th Amend
Can not suspend the Writ of Habeas Corpus
“give me the body” - must bring a prisoner before a judge to decide if he is being lawfully held or must be released.

6. Can not pass a bill of attainder or ex post facto law
bill of attainder - declares someone guilty without a court trial
ex post facto law- law which makes someone guilty of a crime committed before the act was make illegal

7. Powers denied to Congress
Can not directly tax individuals
changed with 16th Amend. that allowed an income tax
Can not tax exports
All laws regulating state trade must be equal- goods between states cannot be taxed
No money can be spent unless a bill is passed to allow it
No title of nobility can be held by federal officials or granted by Congress

8. Powers Denied to States
Can’t enter treaties or alliance; coin money; pass laws that interfere with contracts
Cannot tax imports or exports - can charge an inspection fee
Cannot tax ships or their cargo; can’t engage in war or make peace (only exception is if state is being invaded)