Name one power of the U.S. Congress.

Answers from the USCIS list

Give one of these answers.

• Writes laws
• Declares war
• Makes the federal budget

Our explanation

Congress writes federal laws. It can also declare war, which means officially saying the country is at war. It also makes the federal budget, the government's plan for spending money. Congress declared war after Pearl Harbor in 1941.

Remember it

Congress: laws, war, money. It writes laws, declares war, and makes the federal budget.

Source

USCIS 2025 Study Guide p. 18: "The Constitution says that Congress makes federal laws." p. 64: after Pearl Harbor, "Congress voted to declare war." Budget: M-1778 answer list.

• 128 Civics Questions and Answers (2025 version), M-1778 (09/25) (PDF, USCIS)

Last checked on September 29, 2026.

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