<P> In contrast to these rulings, the Supreme Court also continues to follow the precedent set by Wickard v. Filburn . In Gonzales v. Raich it ruled that the Commerce Clause granted Congress the authority to criminalize the production and use of home - grown cannabis even where states approve its use for medicinal purposes . The court held that, as with the agricultural production in the earlier case, home - grown cannabis is a legitimate subject of federal regulation because it competes with marijuana that moves in interstate commerce . </P> <P> Congress may establish uniform laws relating to naturalization and bankruptcy . It may also coin money, regulate the value of American or foreign currency and punish counterfeiters . Congress may fix the standards of weights and measures . Furthermore, Congress may establish post offices and post roads (the roads, however, need not be exclusively for the conveyance of mail). Congress may promote the progress of science and useful arts by granting copyrights and patents of limited duration . Section eight, clause eight of Article One, known as the Copyright Clause, is the only instance of the word "right" used in the original constitution (though the word does appear in several Amendments). Though perpetual copyrights and patents are prohibited, the Supreme Court has ruled in Eldred v. Ashcroft (2003) that repeated extensions to the term of copyright do not constitute perpetual copyright; also note that this is the only power granted where the means to accomplish its stated purpose is specifically provided for . Courts inferior to the Supreme Court may be established by Congress . </P> <P> Congress has several powers related to war and the armed forces . Under the War Powers Clause, only Congress may declare war, but in several cases it has, without declaring war, granted the President the authority to engage in military conflicts . Five wars have been declared in United States' history: the War of 1812, the Mexican--American War, the Spanish--American War, World War I and World War II . Some historians argue that the legal doctrines and legislation passed during the operations against Pancho Villa constitute a sixth declaration of war . Congress may grant letters of marque and reprisal . Congress may establish and support the armed forces, but no appropriation made for the support of the army may be used for more than two years . This provision was inserted because the Framers feared the establishment of a standing army, beyond civilian control, during peacetime . Congress may regulate or call forth the state militias, but the states retain the authority to appoint officers and train personnel . Congress also has exclusive power to make rules and regulations governing the land and naval forces . Although the executive branch and the Pentagon have asserted an ever - increasing measure of involvement in this process, the U.S. Supreme Court has often reaffirmed Congress's exclusive hold on this power (e.g. Burns v. Wilson, 346 U.S. 137 (1953)). Congress used this power twice soon after World War II with the enactment of two statutes: the Uniform Code of Military Justice to improve the quality and fairness of courts martial and military justice, and the Federal Tort Claims Act which among other rights had allowed military service persons to sue for damages until the U.S. Supreme Court repealed that section of the statute in a divisive series of cases, known collectively as the Feres Doctrine . </P> <P> Congress has the exclusive right to legislate "in all cases whatsoever" for the nation's capital, the District of Columbia . Congress chooses to devolve some of such authority to the elected mayor and council of District of Columbia . Nevertheless, Congress remains free to enact any legislation for the District so long as constitutionally permissible, to overturn any legislation by the city government, and technically to revoke the city government at any time . Congress may also exercise such jurisdiction over land purchased from the states for the erection of forts and other buildings . </P>

According to the us constitution who has the authority to create an army