Denied powers refer to specific powers that are explicitly prohibited to the government by the Constitution. These powers are denied to both the federal and state governments to ensure a balance of power and protect individual rights.
For example, the federal government is denied the power to pass ex post facto laws, which are laws that retroactively change the legal consequences of actions that were committed before the enactment of the law. Similarly, states are denied the power to enter into treaties with foreign governments or coin their own money.
These denied powers are crucial in maintaining the separation of powers and preventing any one branch of government from becoming too powerful. They also help to protect the rights and freedoms of citizens by limiting the scope of government authority.