This legislation, from Representative John Shadegg (R-AZ), would make Congress far more likely to follow the 9th and 10th Amendments:
NINTH AMENDMENT: The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.
TENTH AMENDMENT: The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.
The “Enumerated Powers Act” would force Congress to cite its Constitutional authority for every law it passes.
The enumerated powers are a list of specific responsibilities found in Article 1 Section 8 of the United States Constitution, which enumerate the authority granted to the United States Congress.
Congress may exercise only those powers that are stated in the Constitution, limited by the Bill of Rights and the other protections found in the Constitutional text.
From John Shadegg:
For too long, the federal government has operated without constitutional restraint. In doing so, it has created ineffective and costly programs, massive deficits year after year, and a national debt totaling nearly $7 trillion. The Enumerated Powers Act will help slow the flood of unconstitutional legislation and force Congress to reexamine the proper role of the federal government.
If you think Congress should have to quote “chapter and verse” from the Constitution before it creates a new law or program, please ask Congress to pass the “Enumerated Powers Act.”