What does the Commerce Clause empower Congress to do?

The Commerce Clause, found in Article I, Section 8 of the U.S. Constitution, specifically grants Congress the power to regulate commerce among the states and with foreign nations. This means that Congress can create laws that govern trade and economic activities that cross state lines or involve international interactions. The intent of this clause is to create a consistent regulatory framework for commerce, ensuring that trade is not hindered by individual state laws and that a unified economic system can develop.

This authority has been the foundation for much of federal economic legislation and has been interpreted expansively by the courts, allowing Congress to regulate not only the buying and selling of goods but also the channels and instrumentalities of interstate commerce and activities that substantially affect interstate commerce. Therefore, the answer emphasizing Congress's power to regulate both interstate and foreign commerce accurately reflects the intent and scope of the Commerce Clause.

The other options do not correctly capture the specific authority granted by the Commerce Clause, as they pertain to different areas of governance or imply powers that are not explicitly provided by this clause. For instance, regulating taxation policies falls under different provisions of the Constitution, overseeing state elections pertains to state authority, and controlling all forms of trade is too broad and unqualified a power not explicitly given to Congress