In comparative federalism and comparative constitutionalism
reserved powers or
residual powers are those powers which are not "enumerated" (written down, assigned). In various
federal and
decentralized political systems, certain subjects are assigned to either the central (or federal) government or the regional (or state or provincial) government; however it is not possible to list all possible subjects that might be legislated on for all time. Therefore, the
framers of major constitutional documents tend to assign all other subjects that may arise after the document is enacted to one of the two orders of government. This is considered a major power in its own right.