1.3 The main characteristics of federalism

Question 1

2 essential features of federalism

Answer 1

-The power of the states is protected by the constitution
-Regional powers are equal (all states have the same amount of decision making power)

Question 2

State powers (3)

Answer 2

-election practices
-local law enforcement and criminal codes
-Regulate the lives of their citizens

Question 3

What are concurrent powers

Answer 3

Number of powers that the states and fed. gov. hold concurrently, which they must exercise together

-e.g the right to levy taxes and to borrow money and making and enforcing laws

Question 4

Factors effecting federal and state relationship (4)

Answer 4

-‘Necessary and proper’ clause has allowed the fed. gov. to grow
-The ‘commerce clause’ allows gov. to regulate interstate trade
-The fed. gov. alone has the funds to deal with national issues
-if state and federal conflict, the SC is the final referee

Question 5

Example of ‘Necessary and proper’ clause

Answer 5

Government today has 15 departments.
-the latest being Homeland Security added in 2002

Question 6

Example of the ‘commerce clause’ in use

Answer 6

Obamacare was possible because of this clause

Question 7

Example of state and federal conflict

Answer 7

Supreme Court ruling of Texas v US (2016)

-ruled Obama’s executive order (DAPA) unconstitutional

Question 8

Example of fed. gov. funds used for national issues

Answer 8

Over $114 billion was spent on hurricane katrina

Question 9

How many states still have the death penalty

Answer 9

27

Question 10

Example of states creating laws independently

Answer 10

The Obama administration attempted to ensure that North Carolina respected transgender rights by threatening to withhold some of the federal education funding it provides to the state.

Question 11

Is the US federal today-
AGREE (4)

Answer 11

-each state is able to decide its laws (21 states have legalised weed)
-SC has ruled in favour of the states
-Political parties remain ‘broad chuches’
-Electoral practices vary and are still developing

Question 12

Is the US federal today-
DISAGREE

Answer 12

-growth of federal power encroach on state rights
-Electoral College and HoR place great importance on a few states
-Only the federal government has the resources to deal with nationwide disasters
-SC has ruled in favour of fed. gov

eg. upholding Obamacare in the NFIB v Sebelius case