Federalism Flashcards
Major strength of Federalism
allows for local action for local concerns and national action for national concerns
Delegated Powers
powers granted to the national government by the constitution
Our government is a government of…
Delegated powers
3 types of delegated powers
Expressed
implied
Inherent
Expressed delegated powers:
spelled out in so many words in the constitution – 27 powers
Examples: lay and collect taxes, coin money, and declare war, etc.
Implied delegated powers:
powers reasonably suggested, but not stated in the Constitution –
Also known as the “necessary and proper clause” or “elastic clause” –
There are thousands
Examples: labor-management relations, building of hydroelectric dams, and the building of the interstate highway system, etc.
Inherent delegated powers
powers given to the national government because it is a government of a sovereign state – (inherited)
Few in number
Examples: regulate immigration, to acquire territory, and grant diplomatic recognition, etc.
2 types of powers to the 50 states:
Reserved
Concurrent
Reserved Powers:
Those powers that the constitution does not grant to the national government are reserved to the states.
Examples: establish public schools, licenses, speed limits, police dept. Etc.
Concurrent Powers:
Powers that both the states and national government share
Examples: lay and collect taxes, setting up courts, and to define crimes/punishments, etc
Supremacy Clause:
resolves conflicts between the two levels of government by setting up a “ladder of laws”
Ladder of Laws:
Top rung:
U.S. Constitution
Acts of Congress/National laws
State Constitutions
State Laws
City/County/Local laws
acts as the umpire of the supremacy clause:
Makes rulings and all final decisions
The supreme court
The National government’s obligations to the States (required) - Article IV (3)
- Guarantee states a republican form of government” (representative)
- Protects states against foreign invasion and domestic violence: (make war/keep peace) (Attacks from other countries/terrorism, and riots at home and natural disasters)
- respect all state’s territorial integrity: (recognize states boundaries)
Procedure for admitting a new state: 5 steps
- The territory petitions Congress for admission
- Enabling Act passed – Congress gives the territory permission to write a state constitution
- Popular vote (people in the territory vote, do you want to become a state? Must be ¾ majority)
- Act of Admission – Congress agrees to grant statehood
- President signs it into law