Chapter 3 The Source of Law and Regulations 45 Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Section 8 of Article I of the Constitution enumerates the powers of Congress. These powers include the authority to levy taxes, regu- late commerce, provide for the general welfare, make rules for gov- ernment, and establish all laws necessary and proper to carry out its powers. In addition to specific legislation, such as the Affordable Care Act, much of the federal government’s ability to influence healthcare is based on the implied powers derived from the Commerce Clause. This clause asserts that Congress is to regulate commerce between the states. Almost anything that crosses state lines can be regulated by Congress. In addition, under the ACA, the Congressional power to levy taxes has been used to require individual citizens to enroll in health insurance programs or pay taxes to the federal Internal Revenue Service. States can accordingly proclaim sovereignty over their traditional control of health and safety because the US Constitution does not list such powers for the federal government. At the same time, however, program advocates can use this section to argue for more federal services or more federal protection for individual autonomy and privacy. Balanc- ing priorities and issues of morality, people negotiate social values, eth- ics, and medical science in Congress to establish federal programs that affect healthcare. Commerce Clause a phrase within the US Constitution that grants Congress extensive power to regulate the economy, particularly the flow of items and information between the states Summary of Articles in the US Constitution Article Number Summary I establishes the first of the three branches of the government, the Legislature II establishes the second of the three branches of government, the Executive III establishes the last of the three branches of government, the Judiciary IV concerns the states four sections: (1) mandates that all states will honor the laws of all other states, (2) guarantees that citizens of one state be treated equally and fairly like all citizens of another, (3) concerns the admittance of new states and the control of federal lands, and (4) ensures representative democracy V details the method of amending, or changing, the Constitution VI concerns the United States itself: (1) guarantees that the United States under the Constitution would assume all debts and contracts entered into by the United States, (2) sets the Constitution and all laws and treaties of the United States to be the supreme law of the country, and (3) requires all officers of the United States and of the states to swear an oath of allegiance to the United States and the Constitution when taking office VII details the method for ratification, or acceptance, of the Constitution Goodheart-Willcox, Inc. Figure 3.3