Action Quote by Thomas Jefferson
“Our tenet ever was . . . that Congress had not unlimited powers to provide for the general welfare, but were restrained to those specifically enumerated; and that, as it was never meant that they should provide for that welfare but by the exercise of the enumerated powers, so it could not have been meant they should raise money for purposes which the enumeration did not place under their action.”
About This Quote
Source Letter: to James Madison, 1802
Jefferson argued Congress should only act within powers explicitly listed, not to fund general welfare beyond those limits.
In simple terms: Congress limited to enumerated powers, not broad welfare spending.
Key Takeaway
Uphold constitutional limits on government spending.
Themes
government
law
federalism
budget
constitution
Mood
analytical
historical
Type
political
legal
When to use this quote
- legislative drafting
- budget hearings
- public policy debates
Key Concepts
constitutional law
political theory
fiscal policy
Questions to Reflect On
- What defines "general welfare"?
- Should Congress have flexibility in funding?
A Different Perspective
Interpretations of "general welfare" have varied, allowing broader spending.
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