Original need for the Commerce Clause Research Paper

Original need for the Commerce Clause - Research Paper Example The original concrete programs that were targeted by the clause by giving Congress the authority to regulate commerce were, giving protection or subsidy to favored domestic merchants, restrictions on international trade and punishing foreign producers or imports. The cause was therefore adapted because of the need to nationalize tariffs on imports or state imposts (Gould, 1980). From this, it is evident that neither interstate commerce and trade with Indians was a significant issue in the clause’s original intend/debate. The often claims regarding the purpose of the clause is that it was meant to avert protectionist economic policies among all the US States and to launch common market characterized by free trade across the borders of all states. However, barriers on interstate commerce were not an issue in the original debates. As Johnson (2004) explains, the constitution was put down before Adam Smith with its meaning originating from the mercantilist tradition that existed then but free trade and laissez fair came to dominate the dominate economic thinking later on. Looking at the current description of the clause, it is clear that the Commerce Clause are not the proper descriptions of the original meaning and need of the