Legal Definitions - Disposing Clause

Definition: The Disposing Clause is a part of the United States Constitution that gives Congress the authority to sell or transfer property that belongs to the federal government. It is found in Article IV, Section 3, Clause 2.

Example: The Disposing Clause was used by Congress to sell land in the Louisiana Purchase to private citizens and companies in the early 1800s.

Explanation: The Louisiana Purchase was a large area of land that was bought by the United States from France in 1803. The Disposing Clause allowed Congress to sell this land to individuals and businesses, which helped to increase settlement and development in the region.