By Publius Huldah
Does our existing Constitution permit the federal government to spend money on whatever they want?
No! It contains precise limits on federal spending.
Federal spending is limited by the enumerated powers delegated to the federal government. If you go through the Constitution and highlight all the powers delegated to Congress and the President, you will get a complete list of the objects on which Congress is permitted to spend money. Here’s the list:
♦ The Census (Art. I, §2, cl. 3)
♦ Publishing the Journals of the House and Senate (Art. I, §5, cl. 3)
♦ Salaries of Senators and Representatives (Art. I, § 6, cl. 1)
♦ Salaries of civil officers of the United States (Art. I, §6, cl. 2 & Art. II, §1, cl. 7)
♦ Pay the Debts (Art. I, §8, cl. 1 & Art. VI, cl.1)
♦ Pay tax collectors (Art. I, §8, cl.1)
♦ Regulate commerce with foreign Nations, among the several States, and with Indian Tribes (Art. I, §8, cl.3)
♦ Immigration office (Art. I, §8, cl.4)
♦ The mint (Art. I, §8, cl. 5)
♦ Attorney General to handle the small amount of authorized federal litigation involving the national government (e.g., Art. I, §8, cls. 6 & 10)
♦ Post offices & post roads (Art. I, §8, cl. 7)
♦ Patent & copyright office (Art. I, §8, cl. 8)
♦ Federal courts (Art. I, §8, cl. 9 & Art. III, §1)
♦ Military and Militia (Art. I, §8, cls. 11-16)
♦ Since Congress has general legislative authority over the federal enclaves listed in Art. I, §8, next to last clause, Congress has broad spending authority over the tiny geographical areas listed in this clause.
♦ The President’s entertainment expenses for foreign dignitaries (Art. II, §3); and
♦ Since Congress had general legislative authority over the Western Territory before it was broken up into States, Congress could appropriate funds for the US Marshals, federal judges, and the like for that Territory (Art. IV, §3, cl. 2).
