1. The Powers of Congress Article I, Section 8

2. The Powers of Congress  Expressed  Implied  Inherent

3. Expressed powers of Congress  The power to tax  Limits Can’t tax religious groups (1 st amendment) No poll taxes (24 th amendment) Can’t tax exports Must be for public benefit 16 th amendment made the income tax legal Income tax is progressive

4. Income tax rates - 2007 Taxable incomeMarginal tax rate 0-$7,82410% $7,825-31,85015% $31,851-77,10025% $77,101-160,85028% $160,851-349,70033% Over $349,70035%

5. Expressed powers of Congress  The power to borrow** Unlike most state constitutions, the federal constitution does not require a balanced budget Every year since 1957, Congress has appropriated (spent) more money than it collects in taxes This year’s deficit is projected to be $1.2 trillion The accumulated national debt is almost $11 trillion **We will look at this power more closely

6. Expressed powers of Congress  Commerce power  Currency power  Power to create bankruptcy laws  Foreign relations/war powers  Naturalization  Power to create courts  Power to define federal crimes

7. Expressed powers of Congress  Postal power!  Copyrights and patents  Eminent domain  Weights and measures

8. Implied powers of Congress  Currency Create a national bank  War Draft soldiers  Commerce Enact minimum wage laws  Anything “necessary and proper”!

9. A few more powers of Congress  Settle a tied election  Impeachment  Confirm appointments  Ratify treaties  Investigate! September 11 attacks Global warming Branch Davidian disaster Iran-Contra affair