Article 1 - The Legislative Branch: Section 8 - Powers of
Congress
1.
The Congress shall have Power To lay and collect
Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises, to pay the Debts and provide for the common
Defense and general Welfare of the United States; but all Duties, Imposts and
Excises shall be uniform throughout the United States;
2.
To borrow money on the credit of the United
States;
3.
To regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and
among the several States, and with the Indian Tribes;
4.
To establish an uniform Rule of Naturalization,
and uniform Laws on the subject of Bankruptcies throughout the United States;
5.
To coin Money, regulate the Value thereof, and
of foreign Coin, and fix the Standard of Weights and Measures;
6.
To provide for the Punishment of counterfeiting
the Securities and current Coin of the United States;
7.
To establish Post Offices and Post Roads;
8.
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;
9.
To constitute Tribunals inferior to the supreme Court;
10. To
define and punish Piracies and Felonies committed on the high Seas, and
Offenses against the Law of Nations;
11. To
declare War, grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal, and make Rules concerning
Captures on Land and Water;
12. To
raise and support Armies, but no Appropriation of Money to that Use shall be
for a longer Term than two Years;
13. To
provide and maintain a Navy;
14. To
make Rules for the Government and Regulation of the land and naval Forces;
15. To
provide for calling forth the Militia to execute the Laws of the Union,
suppress Insurrections and repel Invasions;
16. 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;
17. 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
18. 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.