police power

USAGE SUMMARY

"police power" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It refers to the authority and ability of a government or law enforcement agency to enforce laws, maintain order, and protect the public. Example: The city council voted to grant the police department additional resources to exercise their police power and combat rising crime rates in the area.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

Arizona's law invites racial profiling and abuse of police power.

The New York Times

I was determined I would never yield to police power".

Independent

The Constitution limits police power, to protect our personal liberty.

The New York Times

They can deploy police power to the weak points".

The New York Times

"Abuse of police power, that's an obvious one.

The New York Times - Tech

Perhaps they were meant as walking advertisements for police power.

The Guardian - Opinion

Many ethnic-minority voters are still suspicious of police power, he says.

The Economist

Liberty of contract certainly did exist, but it had to be subordinate to the police power.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Not until 1870 after massive bribery by "Boss" William Magear Tweed was local police power restored.

Encyclopedia Britannica

It invites unfettered racial profiling and the abuse of police power.

The New York Times

As a society, we have weighed the risks to public safety in curtailing police power against the risks to public liberty of allowing too much police power.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "police power" when referring to the state's inherent authority to regulate for public health, safety, and welfare; avoid it when discussing general law enforcement activities.

Common error

Avoid using "police power" interchangeably with general policing duties. "Police power" specifically refers to the state's inherent regulatory authority, not routine law enforcement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "police power" functions as a noun phrase, typically acting as the subject or object of a sentence. Ludwig AI confirms that it is a correct and usable phrase. It denotes a specific legal and governmental concept.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Encyclopedias

14%

Science

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "police power" is a grammatically sound and frequently used noun phrase that refers to the inherent authority of a state to regulate activities for the protection of public welfare. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. It is most commonly found in news and media, as well as encyclopedic contexts, with a neutral to formal register. When using this phrase, it's important to distinguish it from general policing duties and understand its specific legal connotations. Related phrases include "law enforcement authority" and "state's regulatory authority". Avoiding confusion and misuse is key to effectively employing this term in writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

law enforcement authority

Focuses on the aspect of legal enforcement rather than the broader regulatory capacity.

power to enforce laws

Highlights the law enforcement aspect of the power.

state's regulatory authority

Emphasizes the regulatory function of the state government.

legal authority

Highlights the legality of the power.

governmental authority

Broader term that encompasses all forms of government control, not just law enforcement.

authority to maintain order

Focuses on the function of preserving public order and safety.

power of the state

General term indicating the state's capacity to exert influence and control.

regulatory control

Highlights the aspect of controlling activities through regulations.

state's jurisdiction

Emphasizes the geographical and legal boundaries within which the power is exercised.

government's coercive power

Emphasizes the power to compel obedience to laws and regulations.

FAQs

How is "police power" typically used in a sentence?

The phrase "police power" is generally used to describe the state's inherent authority to regulate activities for the protection of public health, safety, and welfare. For example, "The state invoked its police power to enact stricter environmental regulations".

What is the difference between "police power" and general law enforcement?

"Police power" refers specifically to the state's inherent authority to regulate for public health, safety, and welfare. General law enforcement involves the activities of police officers in enforcing laws and maintaining order. Although related, the former is a broader regulatory concept while the latter is an operational function.

What are some alternatives to "police power"?

Alternatives include "law enforcement authority", "state's regulatory authority", or "governmental authority" depending on the context.

What limitations are there on the exercise of "police power"?

While broad, the exercise of "police power" is limited by constitutional rights, such as due process and equal protection. Regulations enacted under "police power" must be reasonable and substantially related to the public interest. Courts can review and invalidate laws if they infringe on protected rights or exceed the scope of legitimate "police power".