Article 1

Section 8-10

The Powers of Congress

Section 8 describes the many powers that Congress has, including:

Borrow money, coin and regulate currency, enforce counterfeiting laws
Establish post offices, roads, and post roads
Declare War and pass wartime laws
Provide and maintain a Navy and Militia
Enforce laws in the District of Columbia
Make all laws deemed to be "necessary and proper"

What COngress Can't do

Section 9 includes the limitations on the powers of Congress:

Cannot impede the slave trade until 1808
Cannot remove the right of habeas corpus (unless in times of war)
No taxes shall be laid on goods exported from states
Congress cannot restrict trade to and from ports
No money can be taken from the Treasury without records and due cause
No titles of nobility!

What StaTes can't dO

Finally, Section 10 includes the limitations on the powers of the individual states:

States cannot enter alliances, form treaties, or join confederacies
States cannot create their own currencies
States cannot grant titles of nobility or pass laws after the fact
States cannot tax imports or exports without the consent of Congress; any trade laws are subject to Congress
States cannot maintain armies

Constitution Presentation

By David Nunamaker

Constitution Presentation

A presentation detailing sections 8-10 of Article 1 of the US Constitution.

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David Nunamaker