The Constitution of the United States, Article. I. Section. 8. Powers of Congress
The United States Constitution
Article. I. (The Legislative Branch)
Section. 8. (Powers of Congress)
(Clause 1 – Power to tax and spend)
The Congress shall have Power To lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises, to pay the Debts and provide for the common Defence and general Welfare of the United States; but all Duties, Imposts and Excises shall be uniform throughout the United States;
(Clause 2 – Borrowing power)
To borrow Money on the credit of the United States;
(Clause 3 – Commerce power)
To regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among the several States, and with the Indian Tribes;
(Clause 4 – Naturalization and Bankruptcies)
To establish an uniform Rule of Naturalization, and uniform Laws on the subject of Bankruptcies throughout the United States;
(Clause 5 – Money)
To coin Money, regulate the Value thereof, and of foreign Coin, and fix the Standard of Weights and Measures;
(Clause 6 – Counterfeiting)
To provide for the Punishment of counterfeiting the Securities and current Coin of the United States;
(Clause 7 – Post Office)
To establish Post Offices and post Roads;
(Clause 8 – Copyrights and Patents)
To promote the Progress of Science and useful Arts, by securing for limited Times to Authors and Inventors the exclusive Right to their respective Writings and Discoveries;
(Clause 9 – Courts)
To constitute Tribunals inferior to the supreme Court;
(Clause 10 – Maritime crimes)
To define and punish Piracies and Felonies committed on the high Seas, and Offences against the Law of Nations;
(Clause 11 – War power)
To declare War, grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal, and make Rules concerning Captures on Land and Water;
(Clause 12 – Army)
To raise and support Armies, but no Appropriation of Money to that Use shall be for a longer Term than two Years;
(Clause 13 – Navy)
To provide and maintain a Navy;
(Clause 14 – Military establishment)
To make Rules for the Government and Regulation of the land and naval Forces;
(Clause 15 – The Militia)
To provide for calling forth the Militia to execute the Laws of the Union, suppress Insurrections and repel Invasions;
(Clause 16 – The Militia)
To provide for organizing, arming, and disciplining, the Militia, and for governing such Part of them as may be employed in the Service of the United States, reserving to the States respectively, the Appointment of the Officers, and the Authority of training the Militia according to the discipline prescribed by Congress;
(Clause 17 – Enclave clause)
To exercise exclusive Legislation in all Cases whatsoever, over such District (not exceeding ten Miles square) as may, by Cession of particular States, and the Acceptance of Congress, become the Seat of the Government of the United States, and to exercise like Authority over all Places purchased by the Consent of the Legislature of the State in which the Same shall be, for the Erection of Forts, Magazines, Arsenals, dock-Yards, and other needful Buildings;–And
(Clause 18 – Necessary and Proper clause)
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.
More
- The Constitution of the United States: A Transcription – The National Archives
- United States Constitution: Texts, Commentaries, Historical Texts and Judicial Decisions – Law Library of Congress
- The Constitution of the United States of America: Analysis and Interpretation – FDsys
- “Federalism and the Constitution: Limits on Congressional Power,” CRS Report RL30315
- “Legislative Powers of Congress: A Brief Reference Guide,” CRS Report 97-434 (16-page PDF
) (Open CRS) - “The seven stages of the office seeker“
- Section 8: Powers of Congress – Wikipedia
- Section 8. Powers of Congress – Findlaw
Discussion of “Commerce Clause” (article one, section 8, clause 3).
Discussion of “Commerce Clause” (article one, section 8, clause 3).
A free download of our Pocket Constitution is available on Scribd.
Free Copy of our Pocket Constitution: details on our web site.
Also see our FREE pocket edition of Thomas Paine’s Common Sense.
For over 30 years, TheCapitol.Net and its predecessor, Congressional Quarterly Executive Conferences, have been training professionals from government, military, business, and NGOs on the dynamics and operations of the legislative and executive branches and how to work with them.
Our training courses, publications, and audio courses include congressional operations, legislative and budget process, communication and advocacy, media and public relations, testifying before Congress, research skills, legislative drafting, critical thinking and writing, and more.
TheCapitol.Net is on the GSA Schedule, 874-4, for custom on-site training. GSA Contract GS02F0192X
TheCapitol.Net is a non-partisan firm.
[...] Naturalization and Bankruptcies Clause is one of Congress’ enumerated powers found in the Constitution of the United States, Article. I. Section. 8., clause 4: (Clause 4 – Naturalization and [...]
[...] Postal Service Clause is one of Congress’ enumerated powers found in the Constitution of the United States, Article. I. Section. 8., clause 7: (Clause 7 – Post [...]
[...] Copyrights and Patents is one of Congress’ enumerated powers found in the Constitution of the United States, Article. I. Section. 8., clause 8: (Clause 8 – Copyrights and [...]
[...] Courts Clause is one of Congress’ enumerated powers found in the Constitution of the United States, Article. I. Section. 8., clause 9: (Clause 9 – [...]
[...] Maritime Crimes Clause is one of Congress’ enumerated powers found in the Constitution of the United States, Article. I. Section. 8., clause 10: (Clause 10 – Maritime [...]
[...] War and Military Establishment Clauses are among Congress’ enumerated powers found in the Constitution of the United States, Article. I. Section. 8., clauses 11, 12, 13, and [...]
[...] Militia Clauses are among Congress’ enumerated powers found in the Constitution of the United States, Article. I. Section. 8., clauses 15 and 16: (Clause 15 – The Militia) [The Congress shall have Power] To provide for [...]
[...] Enclave Clause is one of Congress’ enumerated powers found in the Constitution of the United States, Article. I. Section. 8., clause 17: (Clause 17 – Enclave [...]
[...] Necessary and Proper Clause is one of Congress’ enumerated powers found in the Constitution of the United States, Article. I. Section. 8., clause 18: (Clause 18 – Necessary and Proper [...]
[...] Congress uses its constitutional authority, including the Necessary and Proper, or Elastic, Clause (Article I, Section 8, cl. 18: “To make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper….”), to pass laws [...]