In the United States, Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution gives Congress the power to "lay and collect taxes, duties, imposts, and excises, to pay the debts and provide for the common defense and general welfare of the United States. This is also referred to as the "Taxing and Spending Clause."
Jan van Eyck/Arnolfini Portrait/1434/Northern Renaissance ... Most scholars believe that this was a self-portrait (figure reflected in the Arnolfini portrait wears a similar red turban)