The correct answer is: (D) In inseverable aggregates, the domestic purchases or sales of such products affect interstate or foreign commerce.
Congress may regulate the purchase and sale of corn, wheat, rice, and soybeans because, in combination, all of these purchases and sales substantially affect interstate commerce. Congress may only act pursuant to a constitutionally enumerated power. Here, Congress may exercise its broad Commerce Clause power to regulate the channels, facilities, and instrumentalities of interstate commerce and all activities which, in their aggregate, might have a substantial impact on interstate commerce. This is the best choice because it identifies the proper constitutional power being exercised and identifies why the regulation is within the scope of that power. While an individual purchase of these commodities might not affect the national economy, the aggregation of all such purchases and sales certainly would.
(A) Incorrect. The Constitution expressly empowers Congress to enact laws for "the general welfare."
Congress has no power to regulate for the general welfare. However, Congress may tax or spend for the general welfare under Article I, Section 8. Congress may also regulate economic activity pursuant to the Commerce Clause. However, the federal government cannot regulate for the general welfare on a national basis, although it may exercise such powers over federal property (i.e., the District of Columbia, military bases, etc.). Here, the power to regulate corn, wheat, rice, and soybean transactions nationwide must be authorized pursuant to an express constitutional power. Because there is no general federal power to regulate for "the general welfare," this is not the best choice.
(B) Incorrect. Congress has the authority to regulate such products' interstate transportation and importation from abroad.
This statute does not regulate the transportation of corn, wheat, rice, and soybeans. Rather it regulates the purchase and sale of these items. Thus, this choice fails to specifically address why Congress may regulate all purchases and sales of corn, wheat, rice, and soybeans, including those transactions which may, standing alone, be wholly intrastate. In essence, both this choice and the correct choice address the proper source of power for this statute, namely, the Commerce Clause. However, the correct choice is better than this answer because it also states the reason why the Commerce Clause power extends to all purchases and sales.
(C) Incorrect. Congress may regulate the prices of every purchase and sale of goods and services made in this country, because commerce includes buying and selling.
The Commerce Clause authorizes Congress to regulate interstate commerce, not all commerce in general. It is certainly true that "interstate commerce" has been broadly interpreted such that any activity, in the aggregate, which may have a substantial impact on the national economy, may be regulated by Congress under its interstate commerce power. However, this choice implies that Congress may regulate all commerce, regardless of whether the commerce impacts on the national economy alone or in its aggregate. Thus, this is not the best choice because it defines the commerce power too broadly.
