Trade Policy
Section 338: Presidential Tariffs and Import Bans
Trade retaliation invites a calculation: how much extra will an imported product cost? Section 338 of the Tariff Act of 1930 permits a president confronting specified…
Congressional Powers
Congressional powers are the authority that the Constitution gives to Congress. They include making laws, raising and spending money, regulating trade, declaring war, confirming officials, and investigating and impeaching officers of the government.
People usually want to know what Congress can do on its own, where its power ends, how it shares or competes with the president and the courts, and how powers over taxes, spending, war, and oversight are used to check the other branches.
47articles
October 3last updated
An independent team explaining how government works
GovFacts is a nonpartisan site that makes government concepts, policies and programs easier to understand and use.
Referenced by Brookings, CNN, Forbes, Fox News, Pew Research, Snopes, The Hill and USA Today.
The Webby-recognized AI behind our articles »
Referenced by Brookings, CNN, Forbes, Fox News, Pew Research, Snopes, The Hill and USA Today.
The Webby-recognized AI behind our articles »
Latest in Congressional Powers
Congressional Powers
Congress’s Tariff Power After the Supreme Court Ruling
The Supreme Court’s ruling says the International Emergency Economic Powers Act does not authorize presidential tariffs, the taxes charged on imports. Other laws Congress has passed…
Congressional Powers
How Congress Could Reclaim Tariff Authority—And Why It Probably Won’t
President Trump imposed broad tariffs in 2025 using emergency powers. The Supreme Court will soon decide whether he exceeded his authority. But here's what matters more:…
Congressional Powers
What Presidential Power Over Territories Actually Allows
On January 7, 2026, President Donald Trump declared from Air Force One that the United States would act on Greenland "whether they like it or not."…
All Articles on Congressional Powers
How Congressional Impeachment Powers Check Cabinet Officials
Illinois Representative Robin Kelly filed formal charges to remove Kristi Noem, Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, on January 8, 2026. The immediate…
Trump Added His Name to the Kennedy Center. Here’s How He Did It.
On December 18, 2025, the Board of Trustees of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, chaired by President Donald J. Trump,…
How Congress Funds the Federal Government
The United States Constitution grants Congress the "power of the purse": "No money shall be drawn from the Treasury, but in Consequence of Appropriations…
About the Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF)
In the immediate aftermath of the September 11, 2001 attacks, the U.S. Congress passed a joint resolution that would fundamentally reshape American foreign policy…
Is It Normal for a Shutdown to Impact the Opposing Party’s Programs?
Historically, government shutdowns have served as legislative leverage, used by one party or branch to compel the other to agree to a specific policy…
How Congress Watches the National Security Council
The National Security Council operates at the center of American foreign policy, advising the President on matters of war and peace. This powerful executive…
Why the Senate Doesn’t Confirm the National Security Advisor
While the National Security Advisor holds one of the most powerful positions in American government, the Senate has no say in their appointment. The…
How to Add a New Star to the American Flag
The American flag's field of 50 stars appears as a static, timeless icon. Yet the flag isn't a finished work—it's a living document designed…
How the President Appoints Federal Officials
A president's ability to shape America's direction rests on the ability to appoint senior leaders of the federal government. This authority determines who serves…
Who Controls America’s Military: Presidential vs. Congressional War Powers
The United States Constitution creates a deliberate puzzle at the center of military authority. Article II, Section 2 plainly states that "the President shall…