Question

What gives the U.S government the right to collect taxes?
A
Custom of government
B
State laws in all 52 states
C
The US Constitution
D
An act of the US Congress

Answer 1

d

Answer 2

I'd be inclined to agree with (D), too, since Congress can vote changes into the tax code affecting the power to levy taxes, but ultimately, it's the US Constitution that guarantees this power since that right is stated as one of its main points.

The reason was to try and address one of the problems regarding taxation as defined by the Articles of Confederation which gave way too much power to the states so that nothing could get done by the federal government. For example, under the Articles, a state could presumably tell the federal government to pound salt instead of collect income taxes for it. So, for me at least, (C) makes more sense.