The article discusses the role and powers of Congress as established by Article One of the United States Constitution. Here is a concise summary:
**Establishment of Congress**: Article One vests all legislative powers in a Congress consisting of a Senate and a House of Representatives. This bicameral legislature is central to the federal government, allowing representatives to act for the common good[3][5].
**Composition and Election**: The Senate is composed of two senators from each state, serving six-year terms. Originally, senators were elected by state legislatures, but the Seventeenth Amendment allows for direct election by the people[3][5].
**Powers of Congress**: Congress has enumerated powers, including:
– To lay and collect taxes, duties, and excises.
– To provide for the common defense and general welfare.
– To regulate interstate and international commerce.
– To set naturalization laws and coin money.
– To establish post offices and post roads.
– To declare war and raise and support armies[3][5].
**Limitations and Separation of Powers**: The Constitution limits Congress to only those powers explicitly granted, preventing it from delegating legislative authority to the executive or judicial branches. This separation of powers is fundamental to the idea of a limited government accountable to the people[3][5].
**Nondelegation Doctrine**: The nondelegation doctrine, derived from Article One, Section 1, prohibits Congress from delegating its legislative authority to other branches. However, the Supreme Court has allowed some regulatory powers to be delegated to executive agencies as long as an “intelligible principle” governs the agency’s exercise of those powers[3][5].
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