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10 votes
10 votes
Which of the following is an "implied power"?

Select one:
a. The power to participate in space exploration
b. The power to set rules for marriages and divorce
c. The power to establish a local government .
D. The power to provide professional licenses

User Mike Patrick
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1 Answer

15 votes
15 votes

Final answer:

The correct answer is 'a. The power to participate in space exploration' as this is an implied power derived from the Necessary and Proper Clause for carrying out Congress's enumerated powers. 'c. The power to establish a local government' and 'd. The power to provide professional licenses' are powers typically reserved to states.

Step-by-step explanation:

Implied powers are those that are not explicitly stated in the U.S. Constitution but are inferred from the expressed (enumerated) powers. For example, under the Necessary and Proper Clause (Article I, Section 8, Clause 18), Congress has the power to make all laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into execution the enumerated powers.

Regarding the student's question:

  • a. The power to participate in space exploration is an implied power because it can be considered necessary for the execution of expressed powers related to defense and research.
  • c. The power to establish a local government is not an implied power of Congress; rather, it is a power typically reserved to states.
  • d. The power to provide professional licenses is also typically a reserved power of states, not an implied power of Congress.

The powers specifically given to the states by the Tenth Amendment are known as reserved powers. Additionally, powers that Congress does not have under the U.S. Constitution include the right to enforce its laws; this is typically a function of the executive branch.

The highest form of political power is not a president or an authority; it is the sovereign, which in a democracy is the collective body of the people, who provide legitimacy to the government and its laws.

User Matthieu Napoli
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