Question

Write the following in a 5th graders response

Regulate Commerce: The authority to regulate interstate and foreign trade, including with Native American tribes.
Tax and Spend: The power to levy taxes, duties, and imposts, and to spend for the general welfare of the U.S..
Declare War: The power to formally declare war, grant letters of marque, and raise/support armies.
Coin Money: Authority to coin money, regulate its value, and fix weights and measures.
Necessary and Proper Clause: The power to make laws necessary to execute other listed powers, often referred to as implied powers.
Examples of Constitutional Powers (Executive - President):
Commander-in-Chief: Directing the armed forces and militia.
Veto Power: The power to veto bills passed by Congress.
Appointments: Nominating ambassadors, Supreme Court justices, and other officers, with Senate confirmation.
Treaty Making: Negotiating treaties with foreign nations, requiring two-thirds Senate approval.
Pardon Power: Granting reprieves and pardons for federal offenses, except in cases of impeachment.
Examples of Constitutional Powers (Judicial - Supreme Court/Lower Courts):
Judicial Review: The implied power to interpret the Constitution and declare acts of Congress or actions by the President unconstitutional.
Original Jurisdiction: Hearing cases affecting ambassadors and those in which a state is a party.
Examples of Constitutional Powers (Shared/Concurrent/State):
Amending the Constitution: Process involving both Congress and state legislatures.
Concurrent Powers: Both federal and state governments may tax, borrow money, and establish courts.

Answer 1

Here are those government powers written so a 5th grader can understand them:

Powers of Congress (Legislative Branch)
- Regulate commerce: Congress can make rules about buying and selling between states, with other countries, and with Native American tribes.
- Tax and spend: Congress can collect taxes and decide how to spend money for the good of the whole country.
- Declare war: Congress can officially say when the country is at war and can make laws to raise and support the military.
- Coin money: Congress decides what money looks like, how much it’s worth, and the standards for weights and measures.
- Necessary and Proper Clause: If Congress needs to make a law to do its other jobs, it can—these are called implied powers.

Powers of the President (Executive Branch)
- Commander-in-Chief: The President leads the military.
- Veto power: The President can say no to bills from Congress.
- Appointments: The President picks people for important jobs, like ambassadors or Supreme Court justices, but the Senate has to approve them.
- Treaty making: The President can make agreements with other countries, but two-thirds of the Senate must agree.
- Pardon power: The President can forgive people for federal crimes (but not for impeachment).

Powers of the Courts (Judicial Branch)
- Judicial review: Courts can decide if a law or an action goes against the Constitution.
- Original jurisdiction: The Supreme Court can hear some cases first, like ones about ambassadors or when a whole state is involved.

Shared or State Powers
- Amending the Constitution: Changing the Constitution requires both Congress and the states to agree.
- Concurrent powers: Some powers, like collecting taxes, borrowing money, and having courts, can be done by both the federal government and the state governments.