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The Constitution

enumerated powers

The specific powers the Constitution lists for Congress, chiefly in Article I, Section 8. The federal government holds these listed powers, not a general power to legislate.

In full

The Constitution grants Congress particular, listed powers: taxing and spending, borrowing, regulating commerce, declaring war, and the rest of Article I, Section 8's inventory. Everything Congress does must trace to one of them (alone or via the Necessary and Proper Clause). Powers not delegated are, by the Tenth Amendment, reserved to the states or the people.

Also written as: implied powers

Where to go next
Necessary and Proper Clausereserved powersCommerce ClauseWho holds which powers

Written from Constitution Annotated, Article I

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Browse every term in the glossary, or see the vocabulary in motion in the How government works walkthroughs.

A plain-language explanation for civic education, not legal advice. When in doubt, the official source named above controls.