Introduction
It is worth recalling that expressed powers refer to those powers of the U.S. Congress, which are defined in Article I Section 8 of the U.S. Constitution. These are specific, delegated actions to this governmental body, which are explicitly stated in the Constitution, unlike implied powers. Such powers give Congress the power to make critical national decisions on national policy, including questions of peace and war. Among all the expressed powers, some of the most significant to Congress are taxation and import relations. More specifically, the following two expressed powers are considered in this paper, “To lay and collect… Excises…” and “To regulate Commerce with foreign Nations…” as being of crucial importance to the United States Congress (NCC, n.d., p. 3). The purpose of this mini-essay is to discuss this thesis and make a compelling argument for it.
Taxation
It is a fact that, without taxes, no state structure can sustainably exist over time. There is always a connection between any interacting parties: in the case of the relationship between the state and citizens, taxes are a form of that cooperation. People actively enjoy the benefits created and feel within national security because they pay their taxes faithfully. On the contrary, states collect taxes from the population but ensure the sustainable functioning of national systems. However, among the many tax obligations that have been actively developing late, special attention should be paid to excise taxes. Generally speaking, excise taxes are indirect taxes imposed domestically on consumer goods, whether cigarettes or alcohol. Excise is one of the most important sources of money for the state budget for two reasons at once. First, people are unlikely to give up consuming tobacco or alcohol due to their heavy dependence. Secondly, the excise stamp can often reach half or even more of the price, which means that the revenues to the state treasury are substantial.
In terms of significance, the excise tax as a type of tax allows for establishing a stable and understandable relationship between Congress and the population. In addition to the already mentioned effect of increasing the state’s tax base, the excise tax instrument allows Congress to manage the nation’s health indirectly. Since such stamps are imposed on harmful products, the state regulates their price: consequently, the higher the cost of tobacco and alcohol, the fewer people are expected to consume them. Consequently, excise taxes for Congress have a double effect and are the instrument that provides a firm connection with the masses of people.
Imports
Congress has the power not only in the state’s domestic policy but also in the foreign policy. The use of import policy, for example, enables it to control the products imported into the state. These can be any object of the food industry, items, or even the results of intellectual activity. Ignoring the management of foreign products is a strategic mistake of the state. Therefore, the U.S. Congress has the constitutional authority to be in charge of import policy to bring scarce or locally unproduced goods into the country. At the same time, managing imports allows Congress to create a necessary and sufficient facility of specific products in the country to control consumer demand and not create a deficit economy. The more imports a country is characteristic of, the more sustainable its economy is expected.
Conclusion
To summarize, it should be recalled that the powers of the U.S. Congress include a list of constitutionally mandated powers. Among these powers, one of the most important is the administration of excise taxes and the country’s import policy. Both of these powers have a similar effect. Excise taxes allow us to manage the system of indirect taxation, while import policy helps us manage products coming in from outside the country. Both powers directly impact the national economy and allow us to strengthen the link between the state and the population.
Reference
NCC. (n.d.). The Constitution of the United States [PDF document]. Web.