Congressional Power | The Enduring Constitution: Congressional Power

American Government: Congressional Power

1780

1789 The Constitution gives expressed powers to Congress in Article 1, Section 8.

1800

1810

1819 In McCulloch v. Maryland, the Supreme Court holds that the powers to tax, borrow, and regulate commerce give Congress the implied power to establish a national bank.

1820

1824 Gibbons v. Ogden is the first commerce clause case to reach the Supreme Court. The Court's broad definition of commerce in its ruling extends federal authority.

1830

1840

1850

1860

1862 The U.S. government first issues legal tender notes, which are popularly called greenbacks.

1870

1870 In Hepburn v. Griswold the Supreme Court rules that the Constitution does not authorize the printing of paper money.

1870 The Court reverses its position on the printing of paper money and holds that issuing paper money is a proper use of the currency power in the Legal Tender Cases. The decision in Juliard v. Greenman (1884) reaffirms this holding.

1880

1890

1890 The Sherman Antitrust Act, based on the commerce power, regulates monopolies and other practices that limit competition.

1900

1910

1920

1930

1935 The Wagner Act, based on the commerce power, recognizes labor's right to bargain collectively.

1935 The Social Security Act is passed.

1937 Supreme Court upholds the Social Security Act of 1935 as a proper exercise of the powers to tax and provide for the general welfare in Steward Machine Co. v. Davis and Helvering v. Davis.

1940

1950

1956 The Interstate and National Highway Act, based on the commerce and war powers, provides for a national interstate highway system.

1960

1964 The Supreme Court holds the public accommodations provisions of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 as a valid exercise of the commerce power in Heart of Atlanta v. United States.

1965 Congress amends the Social Security Act of 1935 to create Medicare, which covers hospital and other health-care costs of the elderly.

1970

1973 With the War Powers Resolution of 1973, Congress claims the right to restrict the use of American forces in combat when a state of war does not exist.

1980

1990

1990 The Americans with Disabilities Act, based on the commerce power, prohibits discrimination against the physically impaired.

1995 In United States v. Lopez, the Court strikes down the Gun-Free School Zone Act of 1990 on the grounds that the federal government invades reserved powers of the states with this legislation.