ABC-CLIO The Powers of the U.S. Congress: Where Constitutional Authority Begins and Ends

Offering a unique resource for students, scholars, and citizens, this work fully explains all of the 21 enumerated powers of the U.S. Congress, from the "power of the purse" to the power to declare war. This work presents a comprehensive overview of the 21 congressional powers enumerated in the Constitution of the United States through essays that focus on each power. These informative essays introduce and explain each power individually, address its evolution from 1789 to the modern day and into the foreseeable future, and provide real-world examples of how each power has been applied through U.S. history. The comprehensive content enables an understanding of the mutually supporting interplay of all of the legislative powers in our government's system of checks and balances, and it allows readers to better appreciate how radical and daring the framers were at the Philadelphia convention in 1787. Readers will learn about Congressional powers that greatly impact modern citizens, many of which are frequently mentioned in news media due to policy struggles over budget, immigration, and national security; debates regarding the ideal size and role of government; and many others. The contributors also address questions regarding the responsibilities of the Congress, the ways in which Congress has met or failed to meet these responsibilities over the past two centuries, and what changes to congressional power may come in the future. Presents comprehensive coverage of all congressional powers through authoritative essays by recognized experts Enables readers to connect the long-ago goals and perspectives of the Founding Fathers to current issues and controversies Facilitates a fully contextualized understanding of the legislative power of Congress―and the extent and limitations of leverage that it can wield on domestic and foreign policy Provides an accessible gateway to further, more detailed research of each of the individual congressional powers Includes appendices containing the full texts of the Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union and the Constitution of the United States Review " The Powers of the U.S. Congress is an excellent resource both for those who are just beginning to study the powers of Congress as well as those whose scholarship touches on these issues. It would be a welcome addition to any high school or college library." - ARBA About the Author Brien Hallett, PhD, is a professor in the Matsunaga Institute for Peace at the University of Hawai'i-Manoa, Honolulu, Hawai'i.