1. PowerPoint Presentation
Powers of Congress
PowerPoint Presentation
and Review Games

2. What is the difference between the following: Enumerated powers
Pair-Share
What is the difference between the following:
Enumerated powers
Implied powers
Inherent powers

3. Today’s Objective
Students will be able to discuss the enumerated legislative powers of Congress by completing a matching review game.

4. Congressional Power
The Constitution grants Congress a number of specific powers in three different ways.
(1) The expressed powers are granted to Congress explicitly in the Constitution.
(2) The implied powers are granted by reasonable deduction from the expressed powers.
(3) The inherent powers are granted through the Constitution’s creation of a National Government for the United States.

5. Strict Versus Liberal Construction
Strict Constructionist
Thomas Jefferson (Anti-Federalist)
Congress should be able to exercise only
Its expressed powers and
Those implied powers absolutely necessary to carry out those expressed powers.
“the government is the best which governs least”
Liberal Constructionists
Alexander Hamilton (Federalist)
Believe in a broad construction of the powers given to Congress.
The country needed an “energetic government”

7. Section 8 – Powers granted to Congress
Article 1 - The Legislative Branch
Section 8 – Powers granted to Congress
The power to make laws is given to congress ONLY
2 chambers
House represents the people
Senate represents the states

8. Clause 1 – Revenue, tax, debts
Section 8 – Powers granted to Congress
Clause 1 – Revenue, tax, debts
Congress may raise and spend revenue for:
* Revenue – income raised by the govt.(#1 source is taxes)
The common defense
General welfare (general vs. local) who does it benefit?
Direct taxes or indirect taxes?
Federal taxes must be the same throughout the nation
Tax laws must originate in the House because the House protects the rights of the people
The Senate may amend tax bills

9. State Income Tax
Federal Income Tax

10. Clause 2 – borrowing money
Section 8 – Powers granted to Congress
Clause 2 – borrowing money
Congress may borrow money (only in emergencies)
Deficit financing is the practice of spending more money than received in revenue and borrowing to make up the difference.
The public debt is all of the money borrowed by the government over the years and not yet repaid, plus the accumulated interest on that money.

11. Federal Spending

13. Why do you think the U.S. is in such debt?
Who will have to pay for the debt that we are currently in?
What are some solutions to get us out of the debt we are in?

14. Section 8 – Powers granted to Congress
Clause 3 – regulate trade/commerce
Congress would provide a “uniform” standard for the general welfare of the country
Commerce – every species of movement of persons or things” from state to state
The definition of commerce has been expanded to increase the power of congress – “Regulation”
Decreases states’ rights
Turn up sound for animation

15. Section 8 – Powers granted to Congress
Clause 4 – citizenship, bankruptcy
Congress decides who and how people become citizens
Bankruptcy laws protect from abuse
I may have to claim
bankruptcy if I can’t
pay of my debt.

16. Section 8 – Powers granted to Congress
Clause 5 – Regulate money, weights and measures
Control over money is an exclusive federal power
States cannot issue money

17. Clause 6 – Counterfeiting Nobody can make money except the U.S. govt.
Section 8 – Powers granted to Congress
Clause 6 – Counterfeiting
Nobody can make money except the U.S. govt.
Clause 7 – Establish a post service
Clause 8 – Copyrights and patents
Clause 9 – Establish minor courts

18. Section 8 – Powers granted to Congress
Clause 10 – Piracy, Crimes on the ocean
Clause 11 – Declare war
Only used 5 times
Our last declared war was WW2
The President can send troops into combat without a declaration of war (about 170 times)
Congress controls the money
War powers act-1973, passed over Nixon’s veto. Troops in combat for over 60 days needs notification in 48 hours
Clause 12 – create and support an army
There was fear that standing troops would be abused for the pursuit of power

19. Section 8 – Powers granted to Congress
Clause 13 – Create and support a Navy
Clause 14 – Rules for the military
The military is ultimately accountable to civilian authority
Pair-Share: Who is the commander and chief of the military?
Answer: The President
Pair-Share: Why do you think a civilian and not a general is in charge of the military?

20. What do all males have to do when they turn 18?
Section 8 – Powers granted to Congress
Clause 15 – Using the state militia (drafting)
The President can call on the standing military but not the militia
All able bodied males 18-45
Classes of militia
Organized – national guard
Unorganized – males 18-45
What do all males have to do when they turn 18?
Answer: Sign up for the selective service.

21. Section 8 – Powers granted to Congress
Clause 16 – Regulation of state militia
State Militia = National Guard
Can be called by the Governor or the President
Congress can pass rules for their behavior
Clause 17 – Federal capital and lands
Laws can be made for Washington D.C.

22. Section 8 – Powers granted to Congress
Clause 18 – The: “Elastic Clause” or “Necessary and Proper Clause”
Congress can pass other laws needed to implement provisions of the Constitution.
The basis for “implied powers” which are not stated in the Constitution but implied to be given
No powers are added but gives congress the ability to decide “HOW” clauses 1-17 will be exercised
Although no more powers are given, Congress has tried to interpret this clause to use more power

23. The Implied Powers of Congress

24. Impeachment Power
The Constitution grants Congress the power of removing the President, Vice President, or other civil officers from their office through impeachment.
The House has the sole power to impeach, or bring charges against the individual.
There is then a trial in the Senate. A two-thirds vote of the senators present is needed for conviction.
The penalty for conviction is removal from office.

25. Film Clip: Bill Clinton Impeachment

26. What does impeachment mean?
Pair-Share
What does impeachment mean?
Why was he impeached?
What was the outcome?

27. Let’s test your knowledge!!!
Get into groups of 4
Be sure you have a bag of terms
All group members help to quickly turn cards on desks face down
The first student turns over 2 cards. If they match the enumerated power of Congress with the fictitious newspaper article title (implied power) they keep both cards. If they don’t, the student turns them back over.
The winner will be the student who has collected the most cards by the end of the game.