The Power Of The Commerce Clause
Commerce primarily means to traffic or transport goods across state lines for revenue (2). The Constitution of the United States itemizes specific powers for the federal government as conveyed in the Commerce Clause (Article 1, Section 8 and Clause 3) of the United States Constitution (1). The Commerce Clause gives Congress the power to regulate commerce with foreign nations, and among the several states, and with the Indian Tribes (5). On the contrary, the Tenth Amendment confers that any powers that are not delegated to Congress by the Constitution are reserved for the states (1). The construction of the Commerce Clause was initially displayed to restrict state power rather than to make it a source of national power (2). As a result, Congress
has frequently used the Commerce Clause to defend utilizing legislative power over the actions of states and their citizens, which has led to continuous controversy regarding the balancing of powers between the federal and state government (1). Nevertheless, the federal government is the sole liaison of all the citizens of the United States (3). In order to become conscious of the historical extension of the federal government’s power to regulate commerce we must first identify the Commerce Clauses’ primary need, its’ early and current interpretations and its’ impact on individual states and citizens.
has frequently used the Commerce Clause to defend utilizing legislative power over the actions of states and their citizens, which has led to continuous controversy regarding the balancing of powers between the federal and state government (1). Nevertheless, the federal government is the sole liaison of all the citizens of the United States (3). In order to become conscious of the historical extension of the federal government’s power to regulate commerce we must first identify the Commerce Clauses’ primary need, its’ early and current interpretations and its’ impact on individual states and citizens.