Final answer:
The necessary and proper clause in the United States Constitution has actually expanded the power of the national government, despite the statement in the question.
Step-by-step explanation:
The necessary and proper clause, also known as the elastic clause, is a provision in the United States Constitution that grants Congress the power to pass laws necessary and proper to carry out its enumerated powers. Contrary to the statement posed in the question, the necessary and proper clause has actually been interpreted to expand the power of the national government. This is because it provides Congress with the authority to exercise implied powers that are not explicitly stated in the Constitution.
For example, in the landmark Supreme Court case McCulloch v. Maryland, Chief Justice John Marshall asserted that Congress had the power to establish a national bank, even though that power is not explicitly listed in the Constitution. This interpretation of the necessary and proper clause has been upheld over time and has allowed the national government to exercise a wider range of authority.