Final answer:
The Commerce Clause was reinterpreted by the Supreme Court to allow the Federal Government to grow, granting Congress power to regulate economic activities across state lines. The Necessary and Proper Clause justifies the implied powers of the federal government, while the Supremacy Clause ensures federal law superiority over state laws when conflicts arise.
Step-by-step explanation:
The constitutional clause that was reinterpreted by the Supreme Court to allow the Federal Government to grow is the Commerce Clause. This clause gives Congress broad power to regulate many aspects of the economy and enables the implementation of environmental or consumer protections, especially as business activities cross state lines. However, the power granted by the Commerce Clause is not without its limits.
The Necessary and Proper Clause, also known as the elastic clause, in Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution, provides Congress the authority "to make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into Execution the foregoing powers." This clause has been the foundation for expanding federal powers in areas such as healthcare, taxation, and regulation of interstate commerce. On the other hand, the Supremacy Clause in Article VI asserts that the Constitution and federal laws take precedence over state laws in case of conflict.
Historically, the Supreme Court has used its interpretations of these clauses to broaden or limit Congress's ability to pass legislation that impacts states’ regulation of local matters. Notable periods of expansion include measures during the 1930s to combat the Great Depression and during the 1960s and 1970s for civil rights and environmental regulation, respectively.