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"To make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into Execution the foregoing Powers, and all other Powers vested by this Constitution in the Government of the United States, or in any Department or Officer thereof."—U.S. Constitution

This statement, sometimes called the "elastic clause," gives Congress
expressed powers
reserved powers
implied powers
shared powers

User Tim Bender
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2 Answers

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Final answer:

The elastic clause, also known as the necessary and proper clause, grants Congress implied powers.

Step-by-step explanation:

The statement in question, also known as the "elastic clause," grants Congress the implied powers. Implied powers are those powers that are not explicitly stated in the Constitution but are necessary and essential for Congress to carry out its duties.

These powers are derived from the necessary and proper clause of the Constitution, which allows Congress to make laws that are necessary and proper for executing its enumerated powers and other powers vested in the government.

User Brett Postin
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Correct answer: implied powers

[Note that the other answer shown here should NOT be verified, as it is incorrect. "Expressed powers" are also called "enumerated powers," and are those specifically named in the Constitution.]

Step-by-step explanation:

Sometimes referred to as the "Elastic Clause," the "necessary and proper" clause of the United States Constitution grants Congress implied powers beyond the specifically stated ones in the Constitution.. After enumerating a number of the powers of Congress, including borrowing money, coining money, regulating commerce, etc, Section 8 of Article I of the Constitution closes by saying Congress shall have power "to make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into Execution the foregoing Powers, and all other Powers vested by this Constitution in the Government of the United States, or in any Department or Officer thereof." That's a quite broad and "elastic" statement, which goes beyond specifically delegated powers and gives Congress additional implied powers.

An example of the implementation of such implied powers in the Constitution occurred when Alexander Hamilton, as our nation's first Secretary of the Treasury, argued in favor of establishing a national bank. Hamilton believed that anything that is not strictly forbidden in the Constitution is allowable. A national bank was not strictly listed as something Congress could establish, but there was nothing in the Constitution to prohibit it. And the "necessary and proper" clause gave leeway to create it, by the implied powers given to Congress.

User Konstantin Modin
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