Final answer:
The statement regarding the necessary and proper clause limiting the national government's power is false; the clause has been historically used to expand federal legislative powers.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement "The necessary and proper clause has had the effect of limiting the power of the national government" is false. The Necessary and Proper Clause, also known as the Elastic Clause, is found in Article I, Section 8, of the U.S. Constitution. It grants Congress the power to pass all laws deemed necessary and proper for executing its enumerated powers. Historically, this clause has been used to expand the legislative powers of the federal government rather than limit them. This expansion of power is seen through numerous landmark cases, such as McCulloch v. Maryland, where the Supreme Court upheld the broad interpretation of the clause, allowing the federal government to implement laws and establish institutions that are not explicitly mentioned in the Constitution, as long as they help congress to carry out its specified powers.