constitutional power
Legally granted authority
Constitutional power is authority granted or limited by a constitution—the fundamental law governing a political entity.
In the United States, constitutional powers divide among branches of government and between federal and state levels: The president's constitutional power to veto legislation, Congress exercises its constitutional power to declare war.
The term often arises in debates over whether officials have exceeded their authority: Critics argued the executive order went beyond constitutional power.
- dual sovereigntyTwo authorities over one territory
- federal authorityNational government's legal control
- executive orderBinding directive from leadership
- statuteEnacted written rule
- impeachmentCharging officials with misconduct
habeas corpus · judicial review · freedom of speech · bill · ratification process · due process · equal protection · commander-in-chief · state rights · treaty negotiation · devolution · precedent · right to assembly · privacy rights · legislative oversight · advice and consent · bicameralism · amendment process
constitutional powerabsolute power
Unrestricted governmental control
divine right · rule by decree · martial law · emergency powers · executive overreach
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