Question

Which of the following is the best example of a concurrent power under the U.S. Constitution?

1) Power to declare war
2) Power to regulate commerce
3) Power to establish post offices
4) Power to coin money

Answer 1

The best example of a concurrent power under the U.S. Constitution is the ability to levy taxes, as it is a power shared by both state and federal governments; the power to coin money is not a concurrent but an enumerated power held exclusively by the federal government.

Step-by-step explanation:

The question concerns which example best represents a concurrent power under the U.S. Constitution. Concurrent powers are those that are shared by both the state and national governments. Powers like collecting taxes, borrowing money, and defining crimes and punishments are examples of concurrent powers.

However, the power to coin money is not a concurrent power; it is an enumerated power exclusively held by the federal government, as outlined in Article I, Section 8, Clause 5 of the Constitution. Concurrent powers can be exemplified by the ability to levy taxes because both state governments and the federal government have the authority to do so. It is important to distinguish between these shared powers and those that are exclusive to the federal government, like coining money, to understand the framework of federalism within the United States.