Enumerated Powers in a Nutshell

I've taken the liberty of putting the enumerated powers of the Federal government in a short, easily read format...

These are our powers as individuals delegated to our representatives via the Constitution.

 

Not a very long list, is it?

The President can…

• veto laws
• issue pardons
• establish a cabinet of principle advisers
• act as military commander in chief
• ratify treaties (with the consent of the Senate)
• appoint judges, ambassadors, consuls, ministers and other officers (with the consent of the Senate)
• give the State of the Union speech
• convene or adjourn both Houses
• receive Ambassadors and other public Ministers
• take Care that the Laws be faithfully executed
• Commission all the Officers of the ....United States.....

Congress can…

• override a presidential veto
• collect taxes, borrow money & set monetary policy
• fix weights and standards
• regulate international and interstate trade
• provide for the common defense
• establish a uniform rule of naturalization,
• establish uniform laws on the subject of bankruptcies
• establish post offices and post roads;
• provide for patents and copyrights
• constitute tribunals inferior to the Supreme Court;
• manage the Capital and other Federal buildings

The Federal Courts can rule on…

• cases under the Federal Constitution, laws, and treaties
• cases involving ambassadors
• cases involving navigable waters
• cases in which the ....United States.... is a party
• cases between two or more states
• cases between citizens of different states
• cases between citizens claiming land in different states
• cases between citizens or states and foreign citizens or states