Powers of Congress

The congress has special powers spelled out within the constitution. The most important place that the powers are in the constitution is article one, section eight. In this section, it lists powers of congress and what they entail. Congress in a way has more power than the president because after congress comes up with a law it is then taken to the president and if the president vetoes the new law, congress can still override the president’s decision. In addition, if the congress wanted to they could amend the constitution it is a long process but they can do it. I believe the three most important powers of congress are”1. To coin money, regulate the value thereof, and of foreign coin, and fix the standard of weights and measures; 2. To declare war, grant letters of marque and reprisal, and make rules concerning captures on land and water; and 3. To define and punish piracies and felonies committed on the high seas, and offenses against the law of nations”(Shea). The power to coin money is an extremely important power. The congress has this power because congress is burdened with making the biggest decisions among our government. If no one regulated the value of our money or foreign money, we would run out of money for economy and run into bigger problems with other countries. I believe that it is a good idea for congress to have the power to do this because if it were left up to just one person it would not be a logical because money affects everyone. In addition, the power to declare war is also a very important power. The president is allowed to declare war if there is a sudden attack, for instance like 9/11, but when the congress has the power to declare war it is taking a better poll from the people. It then becomes not one person’s choice but the choice of those that we put into congress as voters. Anytime congress has to make a big decision like whether or not we should go to war definitely proves why we voted for them. Lastly, I

Cited: Shea, D. M. (2007). The Legislative Branch. Living democracy (Calif. ed., pp. 229-265). Upper Saddle River, N.J.: Pearson Prentice Hall.