On the right side of the screen are three icons, denoting what your powers are. The top icon represents your Active Power. The number next to it is the time left until you can use your Active Power again. If it is not zero, you cannot use your active power. Once it decrements to zero, you can use it again.
Different powers have different recharge times.
Passive Powers Passive Powers are always on, no matter what. The only exception is Boot to the Head, which activates automatically when you touch someone. Like Passive Powers, Specials require no intervention on your part to be in effect. Triple Powers Triple Powers are different than the rest. In order to use them, you have to have all three of your other powers Active, Passive, and Special all set to the same Triple Power.