Browse the Constitution Annotated
Article I
Section 8
- Clause 1
The Congress shall have Power To lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises, to pay the Debts and provide for the common Defence and general Welfare of the United States; but all Duties, Imposts and Excises shall be uniform throughout the United States;
- ArtI.S8.C1.1 Taxing Power
- ArtI.S8.C1.2 Spending Power
- Clause 2
To borrow Money on the credit of the United States;
- ArtI.S8.C2.1 Borrowing Power
- Clause 3
To regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among the several States, and with the Indian Tribes;
- ArtI.S8.C3.1 Commerce Powers
- ArtI.S8.C3.1.1 Foreign Commerce Power
- ArtI.S8.C3.1.2 Commerce Among the Several States
- ArtI.S8.C3.1.3 Commerce With Indian Tribes
- ArtI.S8.C3.1.4 Dormant Commerce Power
- ArtI.S8.C3.1.4.1 Dormant Commerce Power: Overview
- ArtI.S8.C3.1.4.2 Dormant Commerce Power: Select Topics for Consideration
- ArtI.S8.C3.1.4.2.1 State Taxation and the Dormant Commerce Clause
- ArtI.S8.C3.1 Commerce Powers
- Clause 4
To establish an uniform Rule of Naturalization, and uniform Laws on the subject of Bankruptcies throughout the United States;
- ArtI.S8.C4.1 Naturalization Power
- ArtI.S8.C4.1.1 Naturalization Power: Overview
- ArtI.S8.C4.1.2 Naturalization Power: Select Topics for Consideration
- ArtI.S8.C4.1.2.1 Expatriation
- ArtI.S8.C4.2 Bankruptcy Power
- ArtI.S8.C4.2.1 Bankruptcy Power: Doctrine and Practice
- ArtI.S8.C4.2.1.1 Scope of Federal Bankruptcy Power
- ArtI.S8.C4.2.1.2 Restriction on State Bankruptcy Power
- ArtI.S8.C4.2.1 Bankruptcy Power: Doctrine and Practice
- ArtI.S8.C4.1 Naturalization Power
- Clause 5
To coin Money, regulate the Value thereof, and of foreign Coin, and fix the Standard of Weights and Measures;
- ArtI.S8.C5.1 Coinage Power
- Clause 6
To provide for the Punishment of counterfeiting the Securities and current Coin of the United States;
- ArtI.S8.C6.1 Counterfeiting Power
- Clause 7
To establish Post Offices and post Roads;
- ArtI.S8.C7.1 Postal Power
- ArtI.S8.C7.1.1 Postal Power: Overview
- ArtI.S8.C7.1.2 Postal Power: Doctrine and Practice
- ArtI.S8.C7.1.2.1 Postal Power: Restrictions on State Power
- ArtI.S8.C7.1 Postal Power
- Clause 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;
- ArtI.S8.C8.1 Copyrights and Patents
- ArtI.S8.C8.1.1 Origins and Scope of the Power
- ArtI.S8.C8.1.2 Patentable Discoveries
- ArtI.S8.C8.1.3 Nature and Scope of the Right Secured for Copyright
- ArtI.S8.C8.1.4 Power of Congress Over Patents and Copyrights
- ArtI.S8.C8.1.5 Copyright and the First Amendment
- ArtI.S8.C8.1.6 State Power Affecting Patents and Copyrights
- ArtI.S8.C8.1.7 Trade-Marks and Advertisements
- ArtI.S8.C8.1 Copyrights and Patents
- Clause 9
To constitute Tribunals inferior to the supreme Court;
- ArtI.S8.C9.1 In General
- Clause 10
To define and punish Piracies and Felonies committed on the high Seas, and Offences against the Law of Nations;
- ArtI.S8.C10.1 Define and Punish Clause
- ArtI.S8.C10.1.1 Define and Punish Clause: Historical Background
- ArtI.S8.C10.1.2 Define and Punish Clause: Doctrine and Practice
- ArtI.S8.C10.1 Define and Punish Clause
- Clause 11
To declare War, grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal, and make Rules concerning Captures on Land and Water;
- ArtI.S8.C11.1 Power to Declare War
- ArtI.S8.C11.2 Power to Make Rules Regarding Capture
- Clause 12
To raise and support Armies, but no Appropriation of Money to that Use shall be for a longer Term than two Years;
- ArtI.S8.C12.1 Power to Raise and Support an Army
- ArtI.S8.C12.1.1 Power to Raise and Support an Army: Overview
- ArtI.S8.C12.1.2 Power to Raise and Support an Army: Historical Background
- ArtI.S8.C12.1 Power to Raise and Support an Army
- Clause 13
To provide and maintain a Navy;
- ArtI.S8.C13.1 In General
- Clause 14
To make Rules for the Government and Regulation of the land and naval Forces;
- ArtI.S8.C14.1 Power to Govern and Regulate Land and Naval Forces
- Clause 15
To provide for calling forth the Militia to execute the Laws of the Union, suppress Insurrections and repel Invasions;
- ArtI.S8.C15.1 Power to Call Forth the Militia
- Clause 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;
- ArtI.S8.C16.1 Power to Organize Militias
- Clause 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 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
- ArtI.S8.C17.1 Power over the Seat of Government
- ArtI.S8.C17.1.1 Power over the Seat of Government: Historical Background
- ArtI.S8.C17.1.2 Power over the Seat of Government: Doctrine and Practice
- ArtI.S8.C17.2 Power Over Places Purchased
- ArtI.S8.C17.1 Power over the Seat of Government
- Clause 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.
- ArtI.S8.C18.1 The Necessary and Proper Clause: Overview
- ArtI.S8.C18.2 The Necessary and Proper Clause: Historical Background
- ArtI.S8.C18.3 The Necessary and Proper Clause: Doctrine and Practice
- ArtI.S8.C18.3.1 The Necessary and Proper Clause Doctrine: Early Doctrine and McCulloch v. Maryland
- ArtI.S8.C18.3.2 The Necessary and Proper Clause Doctrine: Post-McCulloch Nineteenth Century Doctrinal Development
- ArtI.S8.C18.3.3 The Necessary and Proper Clause Doctrine: Modern Doctrine (Twentieth Century to Present)
- ArtI.S8.C18.3.4 The Necessary and Proper Clause Doctrine: The Meaning of
Proper
- ArtI.S8.C18.4 Implied Powers of Congress
- ArtI.S8.C18.4.1 Implied Power of Congress to Conduct Investigations and Oversight
- ArtI.S8.C18.4.1.1 Implied Power of Congress to Conduct Investigations and Oversight: Historical Background
- ArtI.S8.C18.4.1.2 Implied Power of Congress to Conduct Investigations and Oversight: Doctrine and Practice
- ArtI.S8.C18.4.2 Implied Power of Congress Over Immigration
- ArtI.S8.C18.4.1 Implied Power of Congress to Conduct Investigations and Oversight