Answer:
The Elastic Clause is important to the functioning of the federal government. The founding fathers could not list out every possible combination of issues the federal government might have to address. Instead, they outlined the role of Congress and gave it an important tool to carry out its duties.
By using the Elastic Clause to exercise powers not explicitly in the Constitution, Congress has the power to execute its role as the legislative branch of the U.S. Government. Without the Elastic Clause, Congress would have been limited by the powers expressly in the Constitution, and often unable to perform even those. For example:
The Constitution refers to federal departments and offices but does not enumerate any powers that would allow Congress to create these offices or staff these departments.
Congress has the expressed power to punish federal crimes, such as counterfeiting currency, but does not include any penalties for breaking federal law.
While the government has the expressed power to make treaties, there is no enumerated power allowing Congress to allot funds for ambassadors and travel expenses.
The Constitution does not provide the power to create a federal bank, despite Congress having other expressed financial powers.
