Final answer:
The legislative authority in the United States, according to the Constitution, includes the power to tax, the power to regulate commerce, and the spending power, known as the 'power of the purse'. These are among the most significant powers of Congress, and they are distinct from the powers typically reserved for the states, such as regulating business hours or prohibiting sales.
Step-by-step explanation:
The powers given to the legislative authority in the United States as mentioned in the Constitution include the power to tax, the power to regulate commerce, and the power to spend or appropriate funds which is also known as the 'power of the purse'. While the authority to regulate business hours and prohibit sales might come under the broader scope of regulating commerce and maintaining the general welfare, these are typically state powers rather than specifically enumerated powers of the federal government. Among the powers expressly granted to Congress are the ability to establish rules for naturalization, the power to borrow money on the credit of the United States, and the power to raise and support armies. Hence, out of the options provided by the student, the correct order that represents powers given to Congress would be taxing power, power to regulate commerce, and power to spend (option 4).