{"id":31003,"date":"2016-04-04T20:33:41","date_gmt":"2016-04-05T01:33:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-legal\/constitution\/article1\/annotation44.html"},"modified":"2024-09-30T14:45:05","modified_gmt":"2024-09-30T19:45:05","slug":"annotation44","status":"publish","type":"constitution","link":"https:\/\/constitution.findlaw.com\/article1\/annotation44.html","title":{"rendered":"The Constitution’s Necessary and Proper Clause"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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The Constitution's Necessary and Proper Clause<\/h1>\n
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\n By FindLaw Staff<\/a> | Legally reviewed by Laura Temme, Esq.<\/a>\n | Last reviewed\n
\n \n <\/i>\n Legally Reviewed\n <\/summary>\n\n
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This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

\n \n <\/i>\n Fact-Checked\n <\/summary>\n\n
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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n

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The Constitution explicitly lays out certain congressional powers, known as \u201cenumerated powers.\u201d But it also gives Congress implied power to enact federal laws that help it accomplish those tasks. This article explains the enumerated powers of Congress and how the necessary and proper clause expands on those powers.<\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n\n

Article I of the United States Constitution outlines the power of the federal legislature. First, it grants all federal lawmaking power to Congress. Article I, Section 1 states:<\/p>\r\n

\u201cAll legislative Powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress of the United States, which shall consist of a Senate and House of Representatives.\u201d<\/i><\/p>\r\n

It then gives Congress certain enumerated powers. "Enumerated" means a power or responsibility we can find in the text of the Constitution. For example, Article I, Section 8, Clause 1 states:<\/p>\r\n

\u201cThe Congress shall have 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; but all Duties, Imposts and Excises shall be uniform throughout the United States…\u201d<\/i><\/p>\r\n

Congress’s enumerated powers include the power to:<\/p>\r\n