How has the necessary and proper clause expanded federal power?

Answer 1

The 'necessary and proper' clause is an expressed power that gives way to an implied power. The federal government to use it to justify acts that are not specifically sanctioned in the Constitution.

Answer 2

Because the elastic clause is in the section of the Constitution about congressional powers (Article 1, Section 8, Clause 18), it is describing the things that the Congress can do. The elastic clause says that the Congress has the power to "make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into Execution the foregoing Powers, and all other Powers vested by this Constitution in the Government of the United States, or in any Department or Officer thereof." This means that technically, the congress can make any law about anything that was put in the constitution as a power of the government. This definitely expands the federal power, as the Congress is part of the federal government.

Answer 3

The necessary and proper clause has been used to greatly expand the power of the Congress, and the Federal Government as a whole. This clause is what allows a central bank to exist. Our current central bank, the Federal Reserve, literally gives Congress the ability to print whatever funds they need. This obviously is a huge expansion of power when you control the printing press...