Final answer:
The powers given to the federal government by the Constitution are called expressed or enumerated powers, which include extensive national responsibilities. Alongside these, the federal government also holds implied and inherent powers, while reserved powers are granted to the states.
Step-by-step explanation:
Powers of the Federal Government
The powers granted to the federal government by the Constitution are often referred to as expressed powers or enumerated powers. These powers enable the federal government to conduct affairs on a national level and include significant responsibilities such as the authority to declare war, impose and collect taxes, coin money and regulate its value, regulate interstate and foreign commerce, maintain an army and navy, establish a post office, and make treaties with other nations. Additionally, the federal government possesses implied powers, which are not explicitly listed in the Constitution but are inferred from the enumerated powers. These include actions such as outlawing racial discrimination in transportation due to the power to regulate interstate commerce.
Moreover, some powers are inherently held by the federal government as a sovereign entity, known as inherent powers, such as the ability to acquire new territory and grant diplomatic recognition to other nations. Conversely, powers not specifically given to the national government are reserved for the states. This includes, but is not limited to, powers related to intrastate commerce and marriage. Shared powers, such as the right to levy taxes, are exercisable by both state and federal governments.
Over time, the distribution and classification of powers in the federal system have been delineated as enumerated powers, implied powers, shared powers, and reserved powers (protected by the Tenth Amendment). Our understanding of these powers has evolved, and their application has been interpreted through various constitutional clauses, such as the 'necessary and proper clause' of Article I, Section 8.