How does clause 18 of article I section 8 known as the elastic or the Necessary and Proper Clause affect the powers of Congress responses?

Asked by: Jannie Schaefer III  |  Last update: January 26, 2026
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The Necessary and Proper Clause (Elastic Clause) in Article I, Section 8, gives Congress implied powers beyond those explicitly listed, allowing it to pass laws essential for executing its enumerated powers, enabling the government to adapt to new challenges like technology and modern industries, thus expanding federal authority and ensuring the government's flexibility over time.

How does clause 18 of article I section 8 known as the elastic or the Necessary and Proper Clause affect the powers of Congress?

This clause allows Congress implied powers not explicitly listed in the constitution as long as they are necessary and proper for carrying out the enumerated powers (expressed powers).

Why is article I section 8 clause 18 also known as the elastic clause?

Definition & meaning. The Elastic Clause, also known as the Necessary and Proper Clause, is a provision in the U.S. Constitution that grants Congress the authority to create laws that are essential for executing its enumerated powers. This clause is found in Article I, Section 8, Clause 18 of the Constitution.

How does article 1 section 8 clause 18 give Congress implied powers?

Article I, Section 8, Clause 18: [The Congress shall have 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.

Why has clause 18 been nicknamed the elastic clause?

Hamilton argued that the elastic clause had to be broadly interpreted as granting whatever additional powers would assist Congress in carrying out its enumerated powers. The clause allowed Congress to do not just what was indispensable but also whatever was convenient or helpful to achieving its ends.

The Elastic Clause Explained in 3 Minutes: The Constitution for Dummies Series

21 related questions found

What is the impact of the elastic clause?

The clause allowed Congress to do what was indispensable and whatever was convenient or helpful to achieving its ends. The incorporation of a bank, for example, was constitutional because it was a useful means for Congress to carry out its delegated power to collect taxes.

Why was the Necessary and Proper Clause nicknamed the elastic clause?

The "necessary and proper" clause is also called the elastic clause because it enables Congress to stretch, or expand, its powers.

What is the purpose of this section of article I section 8?

Article I, Section 8, specifies the powers of Congress in great detail. These powers are limited to those listed and those that are “necessary and proper” to carry them out. All other lawmaking powers are left to the states.

What is Section 18 of the Constitution?

17. Everyone has the right, peacefully and unarmed, to assemble, to demonstrate, to picket and to present petitions. 18. Everyone has the right to freedom of association.

What does the Necessary and Proper Clause in Article 1 Section 8 of the Constitution gives Congress powers Brainly?

The Necessary and Proper Clause in Article 1, Section 8 of the U.S. Constitution grants Congress the power to create laws that are necessary and proper for executing its enumerated powers.

Why is the clause controversial?

The Supremacy Clause generated significant controversy during debates over the Constitution's ratification. Anti-Federalist opponents of the Constitution argued that the Clause would make the national government overly powerful and infringe on state sovereignty.

What does article I section 8 clause 1 say?

Article I, Section 8, Clause 1 of the U.S. Constitution, known as the Taxing and Spending Clause, grants Congress the power "To lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises, to pay the Debts and provide for the common Defence and general Welfare of the United States". It also mandates that all such duties, imposts, and excises must be uniform across the U.S. and prohibits taxing exports from any state, establishing the foundation for federal taxation and spending for national purposes. 

What is the purpose of the clause?

The purpose of a clause is to define specific rights, obligations, or conditions that the parties involved in the agreement must abide by. For this reason, legal clauses are written in a precise language that helps avoid ambiguity and define the roles and expectations of all the parties.

What is the unitary executive theory?

In U.S. constitutional law, the unitary executive theory is a theory according to which the president of the United States has sole authority over the executive branch.

What does Article 1 of the Constitution say about Congress?

The supremacy of the people through their elected representatives is recognized in Article I, which creates a Congress consisting of a Senate and a House of Representatives. The positioning of Congress at the beginning of the Constitution affirms its status as the “First Branch” of the federal government.

Does the clause affect individual rights?

The Due Process Clause guarantees “due process of law” before the government may deprive someone of “life, liberty, or property.” In other words, the Clause does not prohibit the government from depriving someone of “substantive” rights such as life, liberty, or property; it simply requires that the government follow ...

How does section 18 work?

Section 18A allows individuals and businesses in South Africa to receive a tax deduction for qualifying donations made to registered public benefit organizations (PBOs) like Ashraful Aid. Here's how it works: Tax Deduction: Donations made to Ashraful Aid are tax-deductible up to 10% of your taxable income.

What is Article 18 in one word?

Article 18 of Indian Constitution included under the Fundamental Rights, addresses the elimination of titles. It bars the state from granting any titles with the exception of academic and military distinctions.

What does Amendment 18 mean in simple terms?

The 18th Amendment, known as Prohibition (1919-1933), banned making, selling, or transporting alcoholic drinks in the U.S., driven by temperance movements to curb societal problems from drinking, but it led to organized crime, corruption, and was eventually repealed by the 21st Amendment, leaving alcohol laws to states. 

What is the importance of article I section 8 clause 18?

It reads that Congress has the legislative 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.” The Necessary and Proper Clause—also ...

What is the purpose of the elastic clause in article I section 8 of the constitution?

These unspecified but undoubted congressional powers, and many others, emerge from the Clause at the end of Article I, Section 8, which gives Congress power “[t]o make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into Execution” the other federal powers granted by the Constitution.

What is the significance behind section 8 clause 8?

Article I, Section 8, Clause 8: [The Congress shall have Power . . . ] To promote the Progress of Science and useful Arts, by securing for limited Times to Authors and Inventors the exclusive Right to their respective Writings and Discoveries.

Why does the elastic clause have the name elastic?

Legal Definitions - Elastic Clause

This provision is called "elastic" because it allows Congress to expand its legislative authority beyond explicitly listed powers to fulfill its constitutional responsibilities.

Is the Necessary and Proper Clause also called the elastic clause True False?

The Necessary and Proper Clause, also known as the Elastic Clause, is a clause in Article I, Section 8 of the United States Constitution: The Congress shall have Power...

What is the significance of the Necessary and Proper Clause in article I section 8 of the U.S. Constitution?

The last paragraph of Article I, Section 8 grants to Congress the power "to make all laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into execution the foregoing powers"--the "Necessary and Proper Clause." The proper interpretation of the Necessary and Proper Clause was the subject of a heated debate between such ...