Question 20 of 128 · American Government · System of Government
Name one power of the U.S. Congress.
On the 65/20 list: one of the 20 questions for applicants 65 or older with 20 years as permanent residents.
Accepted answers
- Writes laws
- Declares war
- Makes the federal budget
Any one of these is accepted, unless the question asks for more than one.
Why this is the answer
Congress writes federal laws, and the Constitution also gives it powers that belong to it alone. Only Congress can declare war: when Japan attacked Pearl Harbor in 1941, the President asked Congress and Congress voted to declare war. And only Congress can raise taxes and decide how federal money is spent, which is what making the federal budget means. Name any one of the three. Memory hook: laws, war, money. The President commands the army, but Congress decides when the country goes to war and what it pays for.