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Preferred term

police powers  

Definition

  • In the United States, police power refers to the authority granted to state governments giving them the ability to make laws that maintain order and safeguard the health, morals, public safety, and welfare of state citizens. This term is interpreted expansively and does not refer simply to the narrow subject of law enforcement. [Source: The Encyclopedia of Political Science; Police Powers]

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URI

https://concepts.sagepub.com/social-science/concept/police_powers

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