What are "enumerated powers"?

Enumerated powers refer to those powers that are clearly and explicitly outlined in the Constitution, specifically assigned to the federal government. These powers are meant to define the scope of the federal government's authority and help prevent any possible overreach by specifying what the government can do. Examples of enumerated powers include the power to tax, the power to regulate commerce, and the power to declare war, all of which are detailed in Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution.

In contrast, powers reserved for the states or those delegated to local governments are not considered enumerated powers as they do not come from the Constitution’s list of federal powers but rather from the Tenth Amendment and other provisions that allow states and localities to govern themselves in certain areas. Additionally, powers that are implied, while important in interpreting the reach of federal authority, are not explicitly written in the Constitution and thus differ from enumerated powers, which are clearly stated.