Which power is shared between the federal government and state/local governments?

Which power is shared between the federal government and state/local governments?

• A. Declaring war
• B. Police power
• C. Negotiating treaties
• D. Coining money

Answer: (B)

In a federal system, some authorities are shared by both the national and state governments. This shared authority is known as concurrent power, and police power is the clearest example. Police power gives states the ability to regulate for public safety, health, welfare, and morals—for instance, they set laws about crime, licensing, sanitation, and safety standards. The federal government also operates in ways that touch these areas, through national laws, funding, and enforcement that address broader concerns like interstate crime and public health. Because both levels can act on similar issues, police power sits in the concurrent arena, with federal actions taking precedence only when there's a direct conflict under the Supremacy Clause, while states retain broad authority otherwise. Declaring war, negotiating treaties, and coining money are reserved to the national government; they’re not shared with states, which is why they’re not examples of concurrent powers.

In a federal system, some authorities are shared by both the national and state governments. This shared authority is known as concurrent power, and police power is the clearest example. Police power gives states the ability to regulate for public safety, health, welfare, and morals—for instance, they set laws about crime, licensing, sanitation, and safety standards. The federal government also operates in ways that touch these areas, through national laws, funding, and enforcement that address broader concerns like interstate crime and public health. Because both levels can act on similar issues, police power sits in the concurrent arena, with federal actions taking precedence only when there's a direct conflict under the Supremacy Clause, while states retain broad authority otherwise.

Declaring war, negotiating treaties, and coining money are reserved to the national government; they’re not shared with states, which is why they’re not examples of concurrent powers.