Best quote from Concurrent Power: Understanding American Federalism and Shared Authority
Concurrent power is this specific brand of American federalism where the national government and your state government both have the independent, simultaneous authority to act on the exact same issues. It is a system designed to be a permanent argument so that no one side ever gets too much control.
This audio lesson was created by a BeFreed community member
Federalism Topics: * Federal Government * State Government * Local Government Learning Objective: Understand shared governmental powers.
![Concurrent Powers: The Ultimate Guide to Shared Government Authority [US Law Explained]](https://d1y2du6z1jfm9e.cloudfront.net/assets/podcast/yellow.png)
Frequently Asked Questions
Concurrent power refers to a specific brand of American federalism where the national government and state governments possess independent, simultaneous authority to act on the same issues. Derived from the Latin word 'concurrere,' meaning to run together, this system allows both levels of government to operate in their own lanes toward the same goals. This shared authority is why citizens often see both federal and state deductions on their pay stubs.
Shared authority functions as the engine room of how the country operates day-to-day, impacting everything from taxes to environmental regulations. Because both state and national governments can act independently, a citizen might encounter local air quality rules that are stricter than national standards. Businesses also feel this impact, as they must often juggle two different sets of safety manuals to comply with both levels of government oversight.
The collection of taxes by both the federal government and state governments is a practical example of concurrent power in action. Under constitutional law, both entities have the authority to exercise power over the same issues simultaneously without asking each other for permission. This results in the 'two bosses' phenomenon where individuals see separate lines for federal and state payments on their pay stubs, reflecting the dual nature of American federalism.
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From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
