Definition
Enumerated powers are express authorities granted to the federal government, especially Congress, in the constitutional text. Examples include taxing, borrowing, regulating interstate commerce, coining money, and declaring war.
Political Dictionary
Enumerated Powers
Enumerated powers are powers specifically listed in the Constitution.
Why It Matters
They define the legal basis for federal action and help preserve a government of limited powers.
How It Works
Federal officials connect laws and actions to a constitutional grant of authority, often together with implied powers.
History
The framers listed federal powers to distinguish the new Constitution from systems of unlimited national authority.
Example
Congress’s authority to establish post offices is an enumerated power.
Common Misconceptions
- Only Congress has enumerated powers.
- The list answers every question about federal authority.
- Enumerated powers cannot support implied powers.
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