What limits the power of congress / federal government?

by **forde** » Sat Nov 19, 2011 9:17 am

Speaker Pelosi was asked what in the constitution gave her and the president the right to mandate the purchase of health insurance. After a stunned silence she shrugged and said..`the general welfare I guess?

If that's the case then why do we have Enumerated Powers / Article I, Section 8, U.S. Constitution ?

The primary powers granted to the federal government are found in Article One,
Section Eight under the headings of “general welfare” and “common defense.”

For The General Welfare:

1. International and interstate commerce (trade)
2. Naturalization
3. Bankruptcy
4. Coin Money, establish its value
5. Weights and Measures
6. Punish counterfeiting
7. Postal Service
8. Issue patents and copyrights
9. Establish Federal Courts
10. Govern District of Columbia
11. Purchase real estate for necessary buildings

For the Common Defense:

1. Define and punish Maritime and international Crimes
2. Declare War
3. Make rules for, and fund Military Services

This list represents the Sum Total of the functions the federal government is constitutionally authorized to do. The limitation on Congress by the Constitution is further emphasized in Amendment Ten of the Bill of Rights.

“The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by
it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.”
~Amendment 10, U.S. Constitution

Any taxes levied or laws passed for purposes other than those listed are unconstitutional

And therefore unlawful.

So why do we have *enumerated powers* if four words "For the general welfare" can be twisted to mean anything the party in power wants them to mean?

by **treasigh** » Sat Nov 19, 2011 9:25 am

Central banking.... they are calling the shots and the sky is the limit; sadly, the tax payers are just plain screwed:(

SanFran Nan Pelosi and her entourage of 1960's hash heads have taken our system of checks and balances and subjectively interpret the general welfare of the people to suit their own "sex and drugs and rock and roll", free love entitlement psychedelic fantasy land.
NOTE: Nice job posting the function of the feds, thanks.

@Beth: LOL, good one

by **adamka** » Sat Nov 19, 2011 9:26 am

The second amendment is what limits the powers of government: the idea that at any time there could be an armed revolution is what was supposed to keep the government from abusing its powers. Somehow the folks in Washington have forgotten that many of us are very well armed, and very good shots.

by **gervaso81** » Sat Nov 19, 2011 9:31 am

The people, elections, are supposed to do that. But gerrymandering, restructuring districts so imcumbents have the edge has disarrmed that weapon. An informed public, not gonna happen soon, is the only remaining check.

by **marlan43** » Sat Nov 19, 2011 9:43 am

Thanks for posting this we need to be reminded what the constitution says it's too bad our politicians don't care about the constitution.

Captain Freon - That is a great quote and it is so true.

by **nemausus36** » Sat Nov 19, 2011 9:47 am

Thanks for posting this we need to be reminded what the constitution says it's too bad our politicians don't care about the constitution.

Captain Freon - That is a great quote and it is so true.

What limits their power is that we haven't given the power to them.

People like Pelosi used to be called 'tyrants'

by **bean** » Sat Nov 19, 2011 9:52 am

Well you see how they have twisted it to their agenda and it won't stop there!

by **shashank** » Sat Nov 19, 2011 9:58 am

The barrel of a loaded gun.

by **darrick34** » Sat Nov 19, 2011 10:01 am

The GENERAL WELFARE, I guess????????? Remember this evil woman is trying to ruin our nation, by having us all pay for health for illegals, when is the USA going to bill Mexico for taking care of their people for the last 40 or so years...........Why is it that in the last 40 or so years we are still doing this????? is it because with no good MEN that evil prevails?? It is also because like most of us we do not make millions and have all kinds of tax shelters like most celebrities types do. So the rest of us are left paying the piper, The DC circus, and the ones that get all the free stuff do not look past the free stuff, Something is amiss here, can anyone figure this out before we fall down....God bless America........

by **vaiveatoish** » Sat Nov 19, 2011 10:11 am

Above all, the powers our elected officials have are granted by those that voted them into office and we can take away the power by voting them out of office. This administration has gone wild trying to gain full control of this country and need to be stopped. "enumerated powers" do not include doing anything the majority of the voters do not want. The dems in control are drunk with what they percieve to be complete control of this country. It is too much for them-they are like children in a candy store and need to by voted out. 2010 will be the beginning of the end of their reign.

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