Which term describes powers that belong to the federal government and are listed in the Constitution?

Which term describes powers that belong to the federal government and are listed in the Constitution?

• A. Enumerated powers
• B. Reserved powers
• C. Concurrent powers
• D. Inherent powers

Answer: (A)

In federalism, some powers are written down as delegates to the national government. The term for powers that belong to the federal government and are listed in the Constitution is enumerated powers. These are the specific authorities given to Congress and the national government, such as collecting taxes, coining money, regulating interstate commerce, declaring war, and maintaining the armed forces. They’re spelled out in the Constitution (notably Article I, Section 8), which is why they’re described as enumerated. This helps distinguish them from reserved powers—those kept for the states by the Tenth Amendment—concurrent powers—those both levels can exercise—and inherent powers—sovereign powers that the national government claims by virtue of sovereignty rather than explicit text.

In federalism, some powers are written down as delegates to the national government. The term for powers that belong to the federal government and are listed in the Constitution is enumerated powers. These are the specific authorities given to Congress and the national government, such as collecting taxes, coining money, regulating interstate commerce, declaring war, and maintaining the armed forces. They’re spelled out in the Constitution (notably Article I, Section 8), which is why they’re described as enumerated. This helps distinguish them from reserved powers—those kept for the states by the Tenth Amendment—concurrent powers—those both levels can exercise—and inherent powers—sovereign powers that the national government claims by virtue of sovereignty rather than explicit text.