In political science, what is meant by an implied power in a constitution or legal framework?

Introduction / Context:
This conceptual question comes from political science and constitutional law. Many democratic constitutions, including those of large federal countries, distinguish among expressed powers, implied powers, reserved powers and prohibited powers. Understanding what an implied power is helps students interpret how governments justify certain actions even when those actions are not described in exact words in the constitutional text. Exam setters like this topic because it tests precise understanding of legal terminology.

Given Data / Assumptions:

The term implied power appears in the context of a constitution or legal framework.
Implied powers are contrasted with powers that are written explicitly or expressly in the constitution.
The question asks for the best definition among four options.
Only one option correctly captures the idea that implied powers are logically derived from other granted powers.

Concept / Approach:
In constitutional theory, expressed or enumerated powers are those listed clearly in the document. Implied powers are not directly written but are inferred as necessary to carry out the expressed powers. For example, if a constitution gives a legislature the expressed power to regulate commerce, then the power to create agencies, pass detailed rules or set up enforcement mechanisms is implied. Reserved powers belong to the states or regions, while prohibited powers are those that no level of government can use. The correct option must emphasise inference from existing powers rather than direct wording, exclusive state powers or forbidden powers.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that implied powers arise from interpretation of the constitution rather than direct quotation.Step 2: Examine option A, which states that an implied power is not written explicitly but is reasonably inferred from expressed or enumerated powers. This matches the standard definition used in political science textbooks.Step 3: Examine option B, which describes powers that are directly and clearly listed. Those are expressed powers, not implied powers.Step 4: Examine option C, which describes powers belonging only to state governments. These are usually called reserved powers in many systems.Step 5: Examine option D, which refers to powers that the constitution forbids. Those are prohibited powers, which are the exact opposite of powers that can be used.

Verification / Alternative check:
To verify, think of famous examples. In many countries, the power of the legislature to create a national bank, to establish administrative agencies or to regulate new forms of electronic communication has been justified as implied powers. Courts argue that if the constitution gives power to regulate commerce or to manage national finances, then certain unlisted actions are reasonably necessary to carry out those functions. This confirms that implied powers come from interpretation of existing expressed powers, which is exactly what option A describes.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option B is wrong because it ignores the idea of implication. If the power is directly written and clearly stated, it is expressed or enumerated, not implied.
Option C is wrong because it describes reserved powers rather than implied powers. Reserved powers are usually kept for state or regional governments under a federal system.
Option D is wrong because prohibited powers are those that the constitution denies to all levels of government. They are not powers that can be implied or used at all.

Common Pitfalls:
Students often confuse implied powers with general or vague powers and sometimes think implied means secret or hidden. The real idea is that they are logically necessary to implement expressed powers. Another common mistake is to mix up implied and reserved powers simply because both are not explicitly described in a detailed way in daily language. Carefully linking each keyword to its technical meaning helps avoid these errors in examinations and in further legal studies.

Final Answer:
The correct answer is A power that is not written explicitly but is reasonably inferred from expressed or enumerated powers. This captures the precise meaning of an implied power in constitutional and political science discussions.