1. Warm Up
Explain why it is important for the powers of Congress to be explained in the Constitution.

2. Wednesday, October 28, 2015
Objective: Students will be able to analyze the expressed powers of Congress.
Materials needed: notebook, pen/pencil, 1 sheet of paper for ranking activity at the end of class

3. What Congress Cannot Do
Congress has only those powers that the Constitution gives it
Expressed powers: those delegated powers of the National Government that are spelled out, expressly, in the Constitution
2 expressed powers (power to tax and to regulate interstate commerce) have evolved over time to include new powers for Congress

4. The Commerce Power
Commerce Power: exclusive power of Congress to regulate interstate and foreign trade
The Supreme Court's definition of interstate commerce has expanded federal authority into many areas of American life
Examples: Gibbons v. Ogden, Heart of Atlanta Motel v. United States
Limits: the commerce power cannot be used to violate other laws, cannot tax exports, cannot tax domestic trade

5. The Money Powers Congress has the power to tax Borrowing Power
We haves taxes to spend money on programs and services that meet the needs of the public and not for the needs of private citizens
Taxes are also sometimes levied to protect the public health and safety
Borrowing Power
Congress has the authority to allow the government to borrow money and raise the debt limit
Coining money

7. Other Domestic Powers Issuing Copyrights and Patents
Power to establish Post Offices and Post roads
Congress has the power to acquire, manage, and dispose of various federal areas, as well as to admit new states
Power to create Federal courts
Power to define federal crimes

8. Congress and Foreign Policies
Power to regulate immigration system and set criteria for entrance into the United States
Power to make laws needed to combat terrorism here and abroad
Power to fund U.S. military and diplomatic missions abroad

9. The War Powers Resolution
The President can commit American military forces to combat abroad only…
If Congress has declared war
When Congress has specifically authorized a military action
When an attack on the United States or any of its armed forces has occurred
The President has to tell Congress within 48 hours if he deploys troops as a result of this
Any deployment of troops into combat longer than 60 days must be approved by Congress

10. Ranking of Expressed Powers
Rank ten expressed powers of Congress in order of importance from 1 (most important) to 10 (least important)
Explain why you ranked each power as you did