necessary and proper
Legally fitting, required
Necessary and proper describes powers or actions that are appropriate and reasonably required to achieve a legitimate purpose.
The phrase is most associated with the U.S.
Constitution's "Necessary and Proper Clause," which grants Congress authority to make laws needed to carry out its enumerated powers: The court ruled the regulation fell within Congress's necessary and proper authority.
Outside legal contexts, the phrase simply means fitting and required by circumstances.
- essentialFundamentally necessary
- requiredNeeded by rule
- fittingSuitable or proper
- suitableProper for purpose
- constitutionalHealth-promoting walk
legitimate · authority · powers · federal government · lawful · requisite · needful · imperative · justified · warranted · mandated · sanctioned · checks and balances · expedient · rightful · obligatory · foundational · enabling
- Congress powersspending power, declare war, impeachment, lawmaking, appropriations
- ConstitutionBill of Rights, preamble, articles, U.S. Constitution, Article I
- Early RepublicGeorge Washington, Founding Fathers, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Constitutional Convention
necessary and properenumerated powers
Authorities explicitly granted by constitution
unconstitutional · states' rights · forbidden · limited government · prohibited
necessary and properunnecessary
Not essential or required
improper · superfluous · unneeded · unwarranted · unjustified
necessary and properillegitimate
Not authorized or recognized
inappropriate · unwarranted · wrongful · irregular · unauthorized
necessary, proper, necessarily, unnecessary, necessitate, necessity, necessities, properly, improper