Sweeping Clause Law and Legal Definition
Sweeping clause is a clause in the U.S. Constitution that empowers Congress to make laws that are necessary and proper for carrying out the powers of Congress and of any other departments and offices. This clause empowers Congress to enact federal laws for the country. This clause is also known as the Necessary and proper clause. The object of this clause is to create a constitution that would endure for ages to come. In United States v. Comstock, 130 S. Ct. 1949 (U.S. 2010), it was held that the Necessary and Proper Clause granted Congress broad authority to criminalize conduct, imprison those who engaged in that conduct, and enact laws governing prisons and prisoners in the course of "carrying into Execution" the enumerated powers "vested by" the "Constitution in the Government of the U.S.
This clause is referred in under USCS Const. Art. I, § 8, Cl 18. This clause reads as:
“To make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into Execution the foregoing Powers, and all other Powers vested by this Constitution in the Government of the United States, or in any Department or Officer thereof”.