Name one power of the U.S. Congress.

Congress is the lawmaking part of the federal government. Members in the House and Senate propose, debate, and vote on bills, and if a bill passes both chambers it can become a federal law after the president signs it.

The Constitution gives Congress the authority to decide when the United States will officially go to war. This power helps ensure that one person alone cannot make that decision. It is part of Congress’s role in overseeing the nation’s military actions.

Congress controls the nation’s spending by passing laws that decide how much money the federal government can raise and how it will be used. This power helps Congress set priorities for programs like defense, schools, and transportation.