state government
According to the 10th Amendment, all powers are reserved to the state that are not expressly given to the national level of government yet not denied to the states.
No, states cannot declare war or regulate foreign commerce. These powers are reserved for the federal government, specifically the executive branch (president) and Congress. States have limited authority in matters of foreign affairs and international relations, which are primarily handled at the federal level.
Exclusive powers are those powers that are reserved for a specific level of government, typically the national government. In the United States, these powers include the authority to regulate interstate commerce, conduct foreign affairs, and declare war. Other exclusive powers can involve coining money and establishing immigration laws. These powers are delineated in the Constitution, primarily in Article I, Section 8.
The Federal Government
The powers held by each level of government in the U.S. are defined by the Constitution, which establishes a federal system. The federal government has enumerated powers, such as regulating interstate commerce and conducting foreign affairs, while state governments have reserved powers, including regulating education and local law enforcement. Additionally, some powers are concurrent, meaning they are shared by both levels, such as the ability to tax and enforce laws. This division aims to balance authority and ensure a system of checks and balances among different government levels.
local level
The states have this ability due to its reserved power to establish local government systems.
The constitution gives the federal government certain powers. The federal government can ONLY exercise a power which is explicitly granted to it in the constitution. The Constitution also lists a few specific things that states are not allowed to do, presumably because the founders didn't want ANY level of government (state or federal) to be able to do it, or because they wanted it to be reserved exclusively to the federal government. The 10th Amendment says that all powers not expressly granted to the federal government, and not expressly prohibited to the states, are reserved to the states or the people.
In the states, the answer will usually be the federal government. Exceptions will be issues over which authority was not specifically assigned by the Constitution. In such cases, sovereignty belongs to the states.
They are concentrated under a central level in a unitary government.
A confederation is a form of government where power is concentrated at the regional or provincial level at the central government has very weak and limited powers
A confederation is a form of government where power is concentrated at the regional or provincial level at the central government has very weak and limited powers