Question

What specifically gives the U.S. government authority to tax incomes to pay for health programs like Medicare?

The president leads the military and is the chief executive.
Congress represents people in all 50 states.
The 16th Amendment gives the authority to tax income.
The courts are supposed to support the public good in these matters.

Answer 1

The 16th Amendment to the United States Constitution gives Congress the power to collect a federal income tax from all individuals and businesses without sharing or “apportioning” it among the states or basing the collection on the U.S. Census. This amendment was passed by Congress on July 2, 1909, and ratified on February 3, 1913.