Unspecified Powers

Definition

Unspecified powers refer to the authority and rights that are not specifically granted to the federal government by the Constitution, but are instead reserved for either the states or the people. These powers allow for flexibility and autonomy at the state and individual level.

Related terms

Reserved Powers: Reserved powers are those powers that belong exclusively to either the state governments or to the people themselves. These powers are not delegated to the federal government, but rather kept aside for state autonomy.

10th Amendment: The 10th Amendment of the United States Constitution explicitly states that any power not delegated to the federal government is reserved for either the states or for the people.

Federalism: Federalism is a system of government where power is divided between a central authority (federal government) and regional units (states). Unspecified powers play a crucial role in maintaining this balance of power between levels of government.