Delegated
Federal Government Powers
The powers that the Constitution specifically gives to the federal government are called delegated powers. For example, only the federal government can coin money. Only the federal government has the power to control trade with foreign nations. The federal government alone has the power to provide for the country's defense because an attack on the United States could threaten all Americans. (You may recall that under the Articles of Confederation, the federal government did not exclusively hold these important powers. The Constitution delegated these powers solely to the federal government in order to strengthen it.)
State Government Powers
The U.S. Constitution leaves several important powers to the states, allowing them to manage their own affairs. The states or the people have all the powers that the Constitution does not specifically give to the federal government. These powers are known as reserved powers because they are reserved, or set aside, for the states or the people. The state governments, for example, conduct elections, regulate trade within the states and establish local governments.
Shared Powers
The federal and state governments also share many powers. These powers are known as concurrent powers. For example, both the federal and state governments can raise funds through taxation. Both also have the power to borrow money. Moreover, they share the power to establish courts, to charter banks, to enforce laws and punish lawbreakers, and to provide for the health and welfare of the American people.
