How much power does the U.S. Congress have?

In simplistic terms, they have the power to make any law that they want, no matter how egregious it is. This law is valid until it is successfully challenged in a court of law and deemed unconstitutional. These judicial challenges can be expensive and lengthy in time. An unjust law can stand for years before it is overturned. read more

"Congress" refers to the house and the senate. That's a lot of people. If you could get enough of them to agree on an issue, they have a great deal of power. read more

Congressional oversight is usually delegated to committees and is facilitated by Congress' subpoena power. Some critics have charged that Congress has in some instances failed to do an adequate job of overseeing the other branches of government. read more