Created by Mr. Steve Hauprich for acceleration and remediation of US History students
Elastic Clause
Article I Section 8 Clause # 18 of
the US Constitution is considered
the ELASTIC CLAUSE because
the power of the national government
can be greatly expanded through
interpretation of Congressional
powers.
Secretary of the Treasury
Federalist Party leader
Alexander Hamilton argued
for the addition of the “elastic
clause” at the Constitutional
Convention in 1787.
Hamilton argued that a
“LOOSE CONSTRUCTION”
view of the Constitution would
allow for greater flexibility of the
US Government to adapt to
changing times and circumstances.
Alexander Hamilton
Although there
is no mention of
a space program
in the Constitution
…
...
the elastic clause
allowed the US
Government to
…
...
create a NASA
program to
explore all the
possibilities of
space flight.
The elastic clause and loose construction
allowed the US Government to
secretly build the world’s first
successful nuclear program
… thus helping the USA
to be the world’s first
nuclear superpower.
Albert Einstein
Nuclear Physicist
The elastic clause allows the US Government to change
its money system as needed to meet the needs of changing
times. This is an old one dollar bill, backed by silver.
An easy way to think of the elastic clause is to think of the
US Government’s power to change its own size and shape.
The Federal Government can become more powerful, less powerful,
spend money, borrow money, loan money, etc…to help the nation
adapt to ever changing circumstances.