Which of the following scenarios best illustrates the concept of concurrent powers?

Which of the following scenarios best illustrates the concept of concurrent powers?

a. The president negotiates a treaty regarding climate change with foreign governments, but for the treaty to take effect, it requires approval by the Senate.

b. As commander-in-chief of the military, the president orders troops to a foreign nation to address a potential threat to national security.

c. A Senate committee holds a hearing to discuss potential misuse of funds by the Department of Veterans Affairs.

d. The federal government provides about 25% of the total funding for highways and transit in the United States, while the other 75% of the funding comes from states.

Answer: d. The federal government provides about 25% of the total funding for highways and transit in the United States, while the other 75% of the funding comes from states.

This situation probably best describes concurrent powers in the American system of government. Concurrent powers on the other hand are those powers that are vested on both the central and state governments. These powers enable both the federal as well as state governments to perform towards the same concern and, in most cases collaborate to deal with the problem at hand.

This concept is best highlighted by the funding of highways and transit where one is privileged over the other. There are authorities to fund and regulate transport infrastructure at the federal level as well as at the state level. The owners, the federal government, invest a considerable amount which is 25 percent of the total financial outlay meant for the overall development of a national transport policy while states on the other hand provide the major share of the funds which is 75 percent to implement their requirements and preferences. Thus, there exists a balance between the general standards set and the extent of autonomy given to regional offices. Some of the examples of concurrent powers include; Taxing powers, Policing and Environmental conservation. For example, only the federal government can collect federal taxes, only state governments can collect state taxes; only the federal government has the Federal Bureau of Investigation FBI to manage federal issues, and only state governments can have their state police. In environmental issues, the federal Environmental Protection Agency provides general guidelines while certain state environmental departments ACT and enforce the general guides along with other state guidelines. Such a system of distributing the power allows for a greater amount of cooperation between the different levels of the government as well as for more efficient governance, which can address the issues on the national level as well as on the regional one.