"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."
— Article I, Section 8, United States Constitution (1787)
Which of the following political controversies in the 1790s arose most directly from conflicting interpretations of the constitutional clause excerpted above?
- The debate over whether the federal government had the authority to establish a national bankAnswer
- BThe claim by some political leaders that the federal government was still organized as a loose confederation of equal states
- CThe insistence by Thomas Jefferson and his supporters that the clause should be interpreted loosely to expand federal power
- DThe argument by Alexander Hamilton that the clause strictly prohibited the federal government from enacting policies not explicitly listed in Article I
Answer
The debate over whether the federal government had the authority to establish a national bank
The controversy over establishing the first Bank of the United States in 1791 was the primary debate in the 1790s centered on the interpretation of the 'necessary and proper' clause. Treasury Secretary Alexander Hamilton advocated for a broad, or loose, construction of the clause to justify federal authority, while Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson advocated for a narrow, or strict, construction, arguing that a national bank was not strictly necessary.
Step-by-Step Solution
Key Concept
The debate over the scope of federal power and the interpretation of the 'necessary and proper' clause led to the formation of the first political parties.