What are concurrent powers

What are concurrent powers? What are reserved powers? Name three (3) concurrent powers; three (3) reserved powers. Use the chart to complete your answer. Which portion of the Bill of Rights established federalism, and how does it do so?

Reserved Powers:

Concurrent Powers:

Example 1:

Example 2:

Example 3:

The Correct Answer and Explanation is :

Concurrent Powers:
Concurrent powers are those powers that are shared by both the federal government and state governments. These powers enable the federal and state governments to function in many of the same areas, though the scope and execution of the power may vary between them. These powers are not exclusively granted to one level of government, and both can exercise them simultaneously.

Reserved Powers:
Reserved powers are those powers that are not specifically given to the federal government or prohibited to the states by the Constitution. These powers are reserved for the states or the people, as stipulated in the Tenth Amendment. This provision helps ensure that states retain authority over matters not explicitly covered by the federal government.

Examples of Concurrent Powers:

  1. Taxation: Both the federal and state governments can levy taxes on income, sales, property, etc.
  2. Law Enforcement: Both levels of government have the power to establish law enforcement agencies (such as the FBI for the federal government and state police for individual states) and maintain order.
  3. Establishing Courts: Both the federal and state governments have the power to create courts to adjudicate disputes and interpret laws.

Examples of Reserved Powers:

  1. Regulate Education: States have the authority to establish and regulate public school systems, curriculums, and standards.
  2. Conduct Elections: States manage and organize elections for state and local offices, as well as for the electoral process in presidential elections.
  3. Regulate Intrastate Commerce: States have the authority to regulate trade and business activities that take place within their own borders, as long as it doesn’t conflict with federal regulations.

Portion of the Bill of Rights Establishing Federalism:

The Tenth Amendment in the Bill of Rights plays a crucial role in establishing federalism in the United States. It states:
“The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.”

This amendment is critical for the principle of federalism because it explicitly protects the powers of the states and the people from being usurped by the federal government. It reinforces the idea that any power not granted to the federal government remains with the states or the people, creating a balance between national authority and state sovereignty. By reserving certain powers to the states, it helps preserve the decentralized structure of American governance.

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