Final answer:
In the United States Constitution, the 'General Welfare Clause' refers to the obligation of Congress to ensure the well-being of U.S. citizens. It is mentioned in both the Preamble and Article I, Section 8, Clause 1, giving Congress the power to tax and legislate for the nation's general welfare, an authority which has grown over time.
Step-by-step explanation:
The concept of the 'General Welfare Clause' in the United States Constitution is found both in the Preamble and Article I, Section 8, Clause 1. The Preamble expresses the goal to 'promote the general welfare,' indicating that one of the founding aspirations for the new government was to improve the well-being of its citizens. Article I, Section 8, Clause 1 specifies that Congress has the power to lay and collect taxes, duties, imposts and excises, to pay the debts and provide for the common defense and general welfare of the United States. This clause has been interpreted to grant Congress the authority to enact legislation that benefits the health, safety, prosperity, and overall well-being of the nation's citizens.
Over time, the interpretation of the General Welfare Clause has evolved, with the federal government taking on increasingly more responsibilities for social services directly affecting citizens' lives. Through the 'Necessary and Proper Clause' in Article I, Section 8, the government has also been given implied powers to pass laws deemed necessary to execute its expressed powers, supporting various policy matters, including those that promote the general welfare.