Legal Definitions - admiralty and maritime power

Admiralty and Maritime powers refer to the federal government's ability to make laws that relate to the water systems of America. This power is granted to Congress through Article 2 Section III of the Constitution.

For example, the Clean Water Act and the Merchant Marine Act of 1920, also known as the Jones Act, are laws passed using Congress's admiralty and maritime powers. The Clean Water Act helps protect the quality of water in the United States, while the Jones Act regulates maritime commerce in the country.

These laws illustrate how Congress can use its power to regulate water systems and maritime commerce in the United States.