Federalism (Unit 5, Lesson 1)

Question 1

Federalism

Answer 1

This means power is shared between the national and state governments. Both types of government are supreme within their proper area of authority. Both have to agree to any changes to the Constitution.

Question 2

Article 6 of the Constitution, the Supremacy Clause

Answer 2

Declares the laws of the national government to be “the supreme law of the land” which the states must obey.

Question 3

10th Amendment

Answer 3

The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited to it by the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.

Question 4

Implied Powers

Answer 4

The Constitution gives implied powers to the national government to make laws that are “necessary and proper” for carrying out its enumerated powers.

These are powers that are NOT specifically given in the Constitution, but are understood to be necessary or allowed.

Question 5

Judicial Review

Answer 5

Judicial review is the power to strike down as unconstitutional acts of the national legislature and executive, as well as state actions.

Question 6

Limitations on State Power

Answer 6

They must follow the Constitution and laws made by the federal government. They cannot pass laws that conflict with federal laws.

They do not have as much financial power as the federal government, and must rely on it for money. This means the federal government can get states to do what it wants by offering grants (money).

Question 7

Enumerated/Delegated Powers

Answer 7

Delegated powers are those powers specifically assigned to the national government. The Founding Fathers feared a national government that would overstep its bounds, so they took care to only allow the national government very specific powers.

Question 8

Reserved Powers

Answer 8

All powers not specifically delegated the national government are to be reserved or saved for the state governments.

Question 9

Concurrent Powers

Answer 9

Concurrent powers are those that both the national and state governments have together.

Question 10

Elastic Clause / Necessary and Proper Clause

Answer 10

The elastic clause or necessary and proper clause allows these by stating that Congress has the power “to make all laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into execution the foregoing powers”.

Question 11

Examples of delegated powers

Answer 11

Regulate interstate and international trade
Coin money
Declare war
Maintain armed forces
Establish postal system
Enforce copyrights
Sign treaties

Question 12

Examples of concurrent powers

Answer 12

Power to tax
Maintain courts
Borrow money

Question 13

Examples of reserved powers

Answer 13

Regulate intrastate trade
Establish schools
Establish local governments
Pass statewide laws
Run elections

Question 14

Popular sovereignty

Answer 14

The People are the legitimate and final source of government authority.

Question 15

Consent of the governed

Answer 15

The People are the legitimate and final source of government authority.

Question 16

Sovereign

Answer 16

Sovereign is defined as “one that exercises supreme, permanent authority, especially in a nation or other governmental unit.”

Question 17

Majority Rule

Answer 17

We accept decisions when more than half of people agree.

Question 18

Source of Government Power

Answer 18

Directly or indirectly from the Constitution. This comes from our heritage with the Magna Carta, which limited the power of the king.

Question 19

Separation of Powers

Answer 19

Powers and responsibilities are divided among the Legislative (Congress), Executive (President) and Judicial (Supreme Court) branches. The officials of each branch are selected by different procedures and serve different terms of office. Each branch may choose to block action of the other branches through the system of checks and balances.

Question 20

Checks and Balances

Answer 20

A system of distribution of power among the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of government so that each branch can counter the actions of the other two. This prevents the entire government from being controlled by any single branch.