stion 22 How did the "necessary and proper" clause influence the national government's scope of authority over time? It led the national government to gradually claim more influence over state government. It led the states to gradually claim more influence over the national government. In some ways, it made the national government more powerful,while in other ways it made the state govemments more powerful. It had no impact on the use of national government power.

The correct answer is: **It led the national government to gradually claim more influence over state government.**<br /><br />The "necessary and proper" clause, also known as the elastic clause (Article I, Section 8 of the U.S. Constitution), grants Congress the power to make all laws which shall be "necessary and proper" for carrying into execution the foregoing powers, and all other powers vested by the Constitution in the government of the United States, or in any department or officer thereof.<br /><br />This clause has been interpreted broadly over time, allowing the national government to expand its authority beyond the powers explicitly enumerated in the Constitution. This interpretation has often been at the expense of state power, as the national government has used the elastic clause to justify actions in areas traditionally considered the domain of the states. Key Supreme Court cases like *McCulloch v. Maryland* (1819) solidified this expansive interpretation, contributing to the growth of federal power.<br />