The United States Constitution
The Necessary and Proper Clause is one of Congress’ enumerated powers found in the Constitution of the United States, Article. I. Section. 8., clause 18:
(Clause 18 – Necessary and Proper clause)
[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.
Also see the Tenth Amendment – Rights Reserved to the States and People


From the U.S. Senate web site:
The “elastic clause” enlarges legislative power by enabling Congress to use any means it thinks reasonable to put these powers into action. This clause also authorizes Congress to enact legislation necessary to carry out the powers of the other branches, for example to organize and reorganize the executive branch.
American Federalism Panel – Constitution Day Celebration 2011
More
- The Constitution of the United States: A Transcription – The National Archives
- United States Constitution: Texts, Commentaries, Historical Texts and Judicial Decisions – Law Library of Congress
- CRS Annotated Constitution (LII)
- The Constitution of the United States of America: Analysis and Interpretation – FDsys
- Constitution of the United States of America: Analysis and Interpretation, Govinfo.gov
- “Federalism and the Constitution: Limits on Congressional Power,” CRS Report RL30315 (31-page PDF
)
- “Legislative Powers of Congress: A Brief Reference Guide,” CRS Report 97-434 (20-page PDF
)
- McCulloch v. Maryland, 17 U.S. 316 (1819) – FindLaw
- McCulloch v. Maryland, 17 U.S. 316 (1819) – Wikipedia
- Clause 18. Necessary and Proper Clause – FindLaw
- Clause 18. Necessary and Proper Clause – from Cornell’s Legal Information Institute
- Necessary and Proper Clause – Wikipedia
- The Reach of Congressional Power: Introduction and “The Necessary and Proper Clause”, Exploring Constitutional Law, by Professor Doug Linder, University of Missouri Kansas City School of Law
- “Necessary and Proper” category on The Volokh Conspiracy
- “Congressional Authority” category on Constitutional Law Prof Blog
- “The Federal Government’s “Police Power” and the Takings Clause: Part IV,” by Josh Blackman
The Elastic Clause Explained in 3 Minutes

A free download of our Pocket Constitution is available on Scribd.
Our Pocket Constitution: details on our web site.
The Five Thousand Year Leap: 28 Great Ideas That Changed the World
The American Patriot’s Almanac: Daily Readings on America
Pocket Constitution
The Federalist Papers
The Politically Incorrect Guide to the Constitution
The Ideological Origins of the American Revolution
The Essential American: 25 Documents and Speeches Every American Should Own
The Founders’ Key: The Divine and Natural Connection Between the Declaration and the Constitution and What We Risk by Losing It
Logical Foundations of Constitutional Liberty
The Reason of Rules: Constitutional Political Economy
Ratification: The People Debate the Constitution, 1787-1788
Constitutional Law for Criminal Justice
Negotiating the Constitution: The Earliest Debates over Original Intent
The Making of America: The Substance and Meaning of the Constitution
The Origins of the Necessary and Proper Clause
Understanding State Constitutions
A Great Power of Attorney: Understanding the Fiduciary Constitution
Framed: America’s 51 Constitutions and the Crisis of Governance
Our Republican Constitution: Securing the Liberty and Sovereignty of We the People
The American State Constitutional Tradition
For more than 40 years, TheCapitol.Net and its predecessor, Congressional Quarterly Executive Conferences, have been teaching professionals from government, military, business, and NGOs about the dynamics and operations of the legislative and executive branches and how to work with them.
Our custom on-site and online training, publications, and audio courses include congressional operations, legislative and budget process, communication and advocacy, media and public relations, testifying before Congress, research skills, legislative drafting, critical thinking and writing, and more.
TheCapitol.Net is on the GSA Schedule, MAS, for custom on-site and online training. GSA Contract GS02F0192X
TheCapitol.Net is a non-partisan small business.
Teaching how Washington and Congress work ™