CORE WORKSHEET
The Expressed Powers of Money and Commerce 2
Type of
Expressed
Power
Currency
Bankruptcy
Borrowing
Tax
Commerce
Currency
Bankruptcy
Borrowing
Tax
Commerce
Currency
Bankruptcy
Borrowing
Tax
Commerce
Currency
Bankruptcy
Borrowing
Tax
Commerce
Currency
Bankruptcy
Borrowing
Tax
Commerce
Where Is This 
Found in the 
Constitution?
Article I, 
Section 8,
Clause 5

Name ___________________________ Class _____________________ Date _______

CHAPTER
11
SECTION 1

The Constitution gives Congress five expressed powers related to 
money and commerce. The powers are (1) currency, (2) bankruptcy, 
(3) borrowing, (4) tax, and (5) commerce. For each item in the chart 
below, circle the type of power Congress uses. Then write where in 
the Constitution this power is found. The first item is done for you. 
Then answer the question on another sheet of paper.

Item
1. Federal law says that no 
pictures of living people can 
be on the nation’s money.

2. In 2008, senators called 
on Congress to stop taxing 
gasoline. This was to help with 
rising gas prices that summer.

3. Congress made the public debt 
limit higher to help pay for the 
war in Iraq.

4. Congress passed a law that 
makes debtors get help with 
their credit problems before 
they can file for bankruptcy.

5. Congress put a quota, or limit, 
on the amount of certain 
cheeses that may be imported 
into the country.

Has Congress gone outside its constitutional power? Explain.

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