Article I, Section 8: Powers of Congress

The Constitution establishes a federal government of limited and enumerated powers. Listing those specific powers provides for limited government. The powers of Congress are listed in this article. After listing each specific power, the Article concludes with the “Necessary and Proper Clause,” which empowers Congress to make all laws necessary and proper to carry out the powers listed.

Article I, Section 9 lists limitations on the powers of the federal government, and the Tenth Amendment emphasizes the division between state and federal power.