Article I, Section 8 enumerates the powers delegated to the legislature. Financially, Congress has the power to tax, borrow, pay debt and provide for the common defense and the general welfare; to regulate commerce, bankruptcies, and coin money. To regulate internal affairs, it has the power to regulate and govern military forces and militias, suppress insurrections and repel invasions. It is to provide for naturalization, standards of weights and measures, post offices and roads, and patents; to directly govern the federal district and cessions of land by the states for forts and arsenals. Internationally, Congress has the power to define and punish piracies and offenses against the Law of Nations, to declare war and make rules of war. The final Necessary and Proper Clause, also known as the Elastic Clause, expressly confers incidental powers upon Congress without the Articles' requirement for express delegation for each and every power. Article I, Section 9 lists eight specific limits on congressional power.
article i section 8 enumerates the powers delegated to the legislature financially congress has the power to tax borrow pay debt and provide for the common defense and the general welfare; to regulate commerce bankruptcies and coin money to regulate internal affairs it has the power to regulate and govern military forces and militias suppress insurrections and repel invasions it is to provide for naturalization standards of weights and measures post offices and roads and patents; to directly govern the federal district and cessions of land by the states for forts and arsenals internationally congress has the power to define and punish piracies and offenses against the law of nations to declare war and make rules of war the final necessary and proper clause also known as the elastic clause expressly confers incidental powers upon congress without the articles' requirement for express delegation for each and every power article i section 9 lists eight specific limits on congressional power