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Section 8
The 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;
To borrow money on the credit of the United States;
To regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among the several States, and
with the Indian Tribes;
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I think many of the opposing viewpoint are stooping to that same Anti-federalist misconstruction.
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The 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;
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Quote:
The 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;
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Paying the Debts and providing for the common Defence and general Welfare of the United States are the scope of the general powers. It means, that public monies should not be spent of the general Badfare, the common Offense, or the general Warfare as is current practice.
The powers listed after the general powers are specific examples and qualifications of what was meant by the common defense and general welfare (as the scope and basis for authority of the specific powers.)