The Division of PowerFederal and State Governments

ADVANTAGES OF FEDERALISM?1.) …ACCOMMODATE FOR DIVERSITY – among the STATES! (Texas & hand-gun laws, Vermont & same-sex marriage)

2.) …STRENGTHENS LIBERTY and PREVENTS TYRANNY (separation of powers, checks & balances at different levels of govt)

3.) …encourages LABORATORIES OF DEMOCRACY (states have authority to craft their own policies while national government has the ability to implement successful policies) HOW?

THINK of relevant and real-life EXAMPLES…

4.) …ALLOWS FOR LOCAL TRADITIONS TO BE FOLLOWED– among the STATES! (NJ & gas, ND & voter registration, NE & their state legislature)

DISADVANTAGES OF FEDERALISM?1.) …FISCAL DISPARITIES among the states (CT – $49,852 and MS – $26,535; affects government SPENDING IN THOSE STATES)

2.) …LACK OF ACCOUNTABILITY (welfare reform in 1996 devolved some power back to the states)

3.) …RELIANCE ON THE COURT SYSTEM (Same sex marriage? Medicinal marijuana? Abortion?)

4.) …PREVENTS THE CREATION OF A NATIONAL POLICY (the U.S. does not have a single policy on many issues; often leads to confusion) – OR, rather, SOLIDARITY throughout the U.S.

2.) The ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION were TOO WEAK to deal with growing problems in the country!

1.) ENGLISH PARLIAMENT was TOO POWERFUL in it’s exercise of power over the colonists!

A FEDERAL SYSTEM WAS THE EASY MEDIUM!

REASONS FOR A FEDERAL SYSTEMCRITICAL THINKING“Why would the FRAMERS OF THE CONSTITUTION choose a FEDERAL SYSTEM?” (think about English Parliament and the Articles of Confederation)

* THREE TYPES of delegated powers (Expressed, Implied, Inherent)

“…powers that are given to the U.S. Federal Government” DELEGATED POWERS

1.) ARTICLE I, SEC. 8: Powers to Congress (18 clauses, 27 total powers)

2.) ARTICLE II, SEC. 2: Powers to President3.) VARIOUS AMENDMENTS (16th)

“Where can you find EXPRESSED Powers in the U.S. Constitution?”

“…powers that are actually spelled out in the U.S. Constitution” EXPRESSED POWERS

Expressed Power of Congress

The need to enforce an Expressed Power…

NECESSARY & PROPER

CLAUSE

IMPLIED POWER

Examples of an IMPLIED POWER?

NECESSARY & PROPER CLAUSE “The Congress shall have Power… To make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into Execution the foregoing Powers, and all other Powers vested by this Constitution in the Government of the United States, or in any Department or Officer thereof.”

“…powers that are not specifically stated, but IMPLIED through CONGRESS’ EXPRESSED powers” (Article I, Section 8)

IMPLIED POWERS

* Example of an INHERENT POWER?

INHERENT Powers* INHERENT – “powers that are NATURALLY GIVEN to sovereign nations” (BECAUSE it is a government, it has THIS or THAT power)

* “BECAUSE I am a teacher, I have the power to do THIS or THAT”

How Are Powers DENIED to the Federal Govt?

2.) Denied through SILENCE * TENTH AMENDMENT – Federal Govt can only do what the U.S. Constitution say it can do!

1.) Denied through EXPRESSION* Lawmakers cannot pass “Bills of Attainders” * No “Ex Post Facto Laws” * Various Amendments* Habeas Corpus may not be suspended, unless…

* “The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are RESERVED to the States…” – RESERVED POWERS (state)

RESERVED Powers* All but ONE of the states’ powers come from CONSTITUTIONAL SILENCE, OR the Tenth Amendment…

1.) Only EXPRESSED STATE POWER: regulation of manufacture, sale and consumption of alcohol! (Twenty-First Amendment)

* What are EXAMPLES of States’ RESERVED powers?

Role of the Judicial Branch* Remember the SUPREMACY CLAUSE (Article 6)

* “This Constitution, and the Laws of the United States which shall be made in pursuance thereof; and all treaties made, or which shall be made, under the authority of the United States, shall be the supreme law of the land; and the judges in every state shall be bound thereby, anything in the constitution or laws of any state to the contrary notwithstanding.”

* The COURT SYSTEM serves as a REFEREE between the 50 states and the Federal government!

(Federal Preemption)

U.S.

ConstitutionU.S. Treaties,

Federal Laws

State Constitutions, State Laws

City/County Charters, City Ordinances

SUPREMACY CLAUSE in action…