Understanding Congress’s Powers: A Civic Duty![]()
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(Note: Please stay on topic when commenting. Avoid comments that name prominent political figures (like elected officials) or political parties. No additional pictures or links, please).![]()
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Several of our participants have recently commented on the powers given to Congress in Article 1, section 8 of the U.S. Constitution. Do you remember what specific powers those are? We the People grant those powers to Congress, so we should familiarize ourselves with them. Congress has been given power only over the 17 specific powers listed in Article 1, Section 8.![]()
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The 17 Specific Powers of Congress![]()
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Tax and spend for payment of debts, the common defense, and general (not specific) welfare![]()
Borrow money![]()
Regulate commerce![]()
Make rules for naturalization and bankruptcy![]()
Coin money, regulate its value, and fix weights and measures ![]()
Punish counterfeiting![]()
Establish post offices and post roads![]()
Establish regulations for copyrights and patents![]()
Establish federal courts below the Supreme Court![]()
Define and punish piracy and felonies on high seas![]()
Declare war![]()
Raise and support armies![]()
Provide and maintain a Navy![]()
Rules of discipline for military forces![]()
Provide for calling the militia into Federal service![]()
Organize, arm, and discipline militias![]()
Control Federal property (specifically post offices, the District of Columbia, and military facilities)![]()
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Our Founders knew that governments historically do power grabs, so they (representing We the People) limited and defined those 17 powers delegated to Congress through the Constitution. But wait. Article 1, section 8, clause 18 adds, "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." As you can see, implied powers are added. That is, the Constitution gives Congress authority over legislative powers not listed in the Constitution but implied in the 17 expressed powers. ![]()
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Implied Powers: A Double-Edged Sword![]()
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Doesn't "implied powers" open the door to a wide variety of powers that We the People never intended Congress to have? Didn't our Founders think of that? Yes, they did. "Necessary and Proper" does not mean runaway authority in any given generation of elected officials. Instead, implied powers are those implicated by the limited and defined powers granted to Congress and spelled out by the Constitution.![]()
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The Air Force was formed in 1947, long after the Constitutional Convention (the era of the horse and buggy). The Constitution in Article 1, section 8 gave Congress the power to create the Air Force as implied by the power to raise and support armies and provide and maintain a navy.![]()
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Establishing a national bank to regulate commerce is another example of an implied power. ![]()
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The Role of We the People![]()
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You might argue that Congress has stretched the necessary and proper clause beyond its limits. In modern times, federal courts have granted additional powers to Congress that aren't spelled out specifically in the Constitution. It's issues like these that We the People need to be more vocal about by asking, "Where specifically, besides the "necessary and proper" clause, does Congress get the power to do this?" Your representatives should be able to cite a specific place in the Constitution that makes their proposal "necessary and proper."![]()
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By actively engaging in the conversation about Congress's powers, we uphold the principles of our Constitutional Republic and ensure that our government remains a true reflection of the people's will.![]()
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This is Common Sense Civics and Citizenship. 🇺🇸
Tariffs? Or Tariffied?![]()
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Tariffs are dominating the news in a big way. We the People are helping news networks and other media to make a lot of money when we engage in panic and fear, or choose ignorance. It’s a citizenship issue, so let’s discuss it.![]()
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(Note: This article is not about economics or the current president. It is about the character of American citizens in times of uncertainty. I encourage you to engage your own followers in tariff arguments. Please stay on topic when commenting. Avoid comments that name prominent political figures or political parties. No additional pictures or links, please).![]()
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Understanding Tariffs and Their Impact on American Citizens![]()
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I’m a civics teacher, not an economist or a financial guru. So, I, like many of you, am looking for a simple understanding of tariffs so as not to be “tariffed.” What are tariffs? They are a tax on imported goods that other countries sell to us. It’s an extra cost to us on foreign goods. Cheap foreign goods have cost us in the long run. Tariffs are a source of income for governments. So, it looks like I will have to adjust my spending for a time. New products and their alternatives will become available.![]()
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The National Debt and Its Implications for American Citizens![]()
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Next, I thought about our country’s debt. Common sense says that the debtor is a slave to the lender. What if the lenders come calling? Our nation cannot sustain a 36.22 trillion dollar debt load that is rising by the moment. Look up “U.S. National Debt Clock.” It’s an eye-opener, for sure! ![]()
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The Big Switch from Manufacturing to Services![]()
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I recall the gradual switch from the USA being a manufacturing nation to a service nation. I remember when “globalization” became the modern buzzword. Although I was young, it didn’t seem common sense to trust foreign countries to make essential things we need and (mis)use their cheap labor. I was told that someone making a dollar a day was at least making money. ![]()
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Think back to when you were asked to adjust from a manufacturing-based economy to a service economy. Did you have to learn computers? Did consumer preferences change, requiring your career and spending tracks to adjust accordingly?![]()
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The Importance of Trade Skills in Modern America![]()
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Now, think about how we no longer teach the trades in high school. We do not prepare young people adequately to hold well-paying manufacturing jobs. How does that work out for the United States? Think about the consequences to our posterity because of this decision, like young adults living at home far too long and staying dependent on their parents more than in our manufacturing days. ![]()
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The Need for Thoughtful Engagement![]()
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With those thoughts in mind, we all need to slow down, gather the facts from both sides of the tariff issue, and think before we act. Don’t let yourself be tariffed (terrified)! Panic produces a poor product. It is never a good choice in any facet of life. Instead, avoid media or any other voices that play on your fear. Common sense and thoughtful engagement are crucial for effective citizenship in times of uncertainty.![]()
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Civic Responsibility in Times of Uncertainty ![]()
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Informed citizens are critical for shaping our future. Instead of relying on media voices alone, engage in constructive, factual discussions about tariffs, not those that invite fear, whining, or complaining. Remain focused on the character and values of American citizenship (strength, courage, respect, responsibility, etc.) as you do. ![]()
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This is Common Sense Civics and Citizenship. 🇺🇸![]()
#tariffs #civicseducation #civicresponsibility![]()
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Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay
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Recapture our American civil discourse by reviving the study of civics and gaining practical knowledge for any stage of life. Candace Donnelly invites you to spend a few minutes with other Americans l...
Executive Power vs Judicial Review; SCOTUS Weighs In![]()
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There is new information to add to our discussion on “Executive Power vs Judicial Review” (www.facebook.com/commonsensecivics, March 30). ![]()
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Recall that there were a variety of opinions on whether the Administration (Executive Branch) was correct to use the Alien Enemy Act and Ludecke v Watkins to deport illegal migrants.![]()
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Matt Nahrgang, a lawyer and participant at Common Sense Civics and Citizenship, alerted me to the fact that there has been “universal misreporting and blatantly incorrect posts” on the Supreme Court’s opinion on removing noncitizen members of a Venezuelan gang under a March 15 executive order.![]()
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I have encouraged my readers to discover the law and the facts about the deportation of noncitizen gang members and the Chief Executive’s constitutional authority. Matt has done this by sending me the following SCOTUS blog article: ![]()
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Amy Howe, Supreme Court requires noncitizens to challenge detention and removal in Texas, SCOTUSblog (Apr. 7, 2025, 8:14 PM), www.scotusblog.com/2025/04/supreme-court-requires-noncitizens-to-challenge-detention-and-removal-...![]()
I would encourage anyone who has questioned the use of the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to read the article. So, too, if you wondered if what you heard/saw/read/ of the news about each justice’s opinion. It is quite enlightening! ![]()
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This is an example of working to discover the law and facts that we discuss here on Common Sense Civics and Citizenship. Thanks to Matt for his participation and for sharing the law and facts as they happened.![]()
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When commenting, please stay on topic. Do not name prominent political figures or political parties. No additional pictures or links, please.![]()
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This is Common Sense Civics and Citizenship. 🇺🇸
Supreme Court requires noncitizens to challenge detention and removal in Texas - SCOTUSblog
www.scotusblog.com
The Supreme Court on Monday lifted a pair of orders by a federal judge in Washington, D.C., that had barred the government from removing noncitizens who are designated as members of a Venezuelan gang ...