Final answer:
Article 1, Section 8, Clause 8 of the U.S. Constitution gives Congress the authority to promote science and the useful arts, providing the basis for federal copyright and patent laws.
Step-by-step explanation:
Congress is granted various powers under Article 1, Section 8 of the U.S. Constitution. The specific clause that enables copyright is Clause 8, which gives Congress the authority to "promote the Progress of Science and useful Arts" by securing for limited times to authors and inventors the exclusive right to their respective writings and discoveries.
This clause essentially provides the basis for federal copyright and patent laws. Hence, the correct option is (c) Promote science and useful arts.
Other significant powers granted to Congress under Article 1, Section 8 include the ability to regulate commerce, tax income, and declare war. Each of these is an important function that shapes the operations and responsibilities of the federal government.