Question: Does the Constitution promote a free market?

A market cannot exist unless there is some standard coordinating mechanism. A market brings buyers and sellers together. In a free market buyers and sellers can come to agreement on the price of the goods or services. From a record of the prices agreed upon all participants in the market can plan their actions in the market. In a free market it is the buyers and sellers that generally control the market and prices.

Even though Article I, Section 8 gives Congress the authority to regulate commerce with foreign nations and among the states, it is still limited by the Constitution how much it may interfere with the market. In Article I, Section 9 it is limited from passing ex post facto laws or bills of attender. In the same sections the government may not limit external markets by taxing exports. Amendment X was written to limit the Federal Government from taking upon itself those powers not given it by the constitution. With these the government is restricted from controlling market and price in general cases and by its absence of control allows the self interest of the participants to drive the market.

(Contributed by George Sweeney)

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