U.S. Constitution Article I. Section 8. outline

From A+ Club Lesson Planner & Study Guide

Outline of the enumerated powers of the Constitution's Article 1, Section 8:


Short list of the enumerated powers of Congress from Article I, Section 8

Article I, Section 8[edit | edit source]

“The Congress shall have Power To”:[edit | edit source]

  • collect taxes
  • to pay the Debts
  • provide for the "common defense"
  • provide for the "general Welfare"
  • To borrow Money
  • "regulate Commerce with foreign Nations and among the several States"
  • coin money and "fix the Standard of Weights and Measures"
  • establish Post Offices and roads for it
  • "promote the Progress of Science and the useful Arts"
  • To constitute Tribunals inferior to the supreme Court;
  • to declare War
  • To raise and support Armies, but no Appropriation of Money to that Use shall be for a longer Term than two Years;
  • to exercise authority over the capital (the District of Columbia)
  • "To make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into Execution the foregoing Powers, and all other Powers vested by this Constitution in the Government of the United States , or in any Department or Officer thereof."

That last is the "necessary and proper clause" is a hugely important part of these powers, as it means that if Congress has the power or authority in the Constitution to do something, it should also have the power and authority to carry it out.

(here for a bulleted list of the entire section)