Federalist No. 31 defends which power of the national government?

Federalist No. 31 defends which power of the national government?

• A. Power to Tax the People
• B. Power to Declare War
• C. Power to Print Money
• D. Power to Regulate Interstate Commerce

Answer: (A)

Raising revenue through taxation is the main idea tested here. In Federalist No. 31, Alexander Hamilton argues that a strong national government must have the power to lay and collect taxes in order to fund the government’s operations, defend the nation, and provide for the general welfare. He explains that without the ability to raise money, the government cannot perform its duties or sustain the institutions that hold the union together. This makes the taxing power essential and properly vested in the national government by the Constitution, rather than a dangerous or unnecessary power. The other powers listed—declaring war, printing money, and regulating interstate commerce—are important national functions, but they are not what No. 31 centers on. The essay specifically defends the authority to tax because it provides the means to support all the government’s activities, whereas the other powers are addressed in different debates and parts of the Constitution.

Raising revenue through taxation is the main idea tested here. In Federalist No. 31, Alexander Hamilton argues that a strong national government must have the power to lay and collect taxes in order to fund the government’s operations, defend the nation, and provide for the general welfare. He explains that without the ability to raise money, the government cannot perform its duties or sustain the institutions that hold the union together. This makes the taxing power essential and properly vested in the national government by the Constitution, rather than a dangerous or unnecessary power.

The other powers listed—declaring war, printing money, and regulating interstate commerce—are important national functions, but they are not what No. 31 centers on. The essay specifically defends the authority to tax because it provides the means to support all the government’s activities, whereas the other powers are addressed in different debates and parts of the Constitution.