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Article I, Section 9 goes on to specify same areas where the Congress does not have power, or where there is some limitations on Congress' powers. Article I, Section 10 specifies a very few things that individual states cannot do.

And finally, the Tenth Amendment states "The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people."

So much for the specified duties and powers of the Congress. I would propose that all of the enumerated duties and powers of Congress imply one overriding, primary duty of Congress: Congress has the DUTY to be responsive, in so far as they reasonably can, to the needs and desires of the People of the United States.

I propose that because in many ways the Congress of the United States not only fails to respond to the People, but actually defies the will of the People.

In a country where nearly 90% of the population consistently expresses a belief in God (though they may differ in their understanding of that God), and a similar number consistently expresses the desire that the motto "In God We Trust" remain on our coins and currency, Congress is unwilling to take any action that will safeguard the position of that motto on our money.

In a country where 74% to 92% of the population agree that English should be the official language of the United States, depending on the specific point of application that is being addressed (language in which official business is conducted, language on ballots, importance of English as a unifying factor in our culture, etc.), Congress does not have the will to take the steps to act on the will of the people.

In a country a huge majority of the population is concerned about the security of our borders and the impact of rampant illegal immigration on the economy and culture of the United States, our borders are as porous as a screen door and our Congress extends most of the benefits of citizenship to illegal aliens. It seems the lawmaking body of our nation doesn't understand the meaning of "illegal.

All of these, and numerous other issues, make it clear that Congress, while exercising its powers to an extent that may exceed its Constitutional warrant, is negligent in performing its overriding duty. This is not a partisan issue. It matters not which political party is in control of either the Congress or the Administration Congress continues to increase its unresponsiveness to the People.

Learn more about this author, Jim Ruth.
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