National and State Powers
The Division of Powers
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Federalism: system in
which the national
government shares power
with state/local
governments.
State governments have
the authority to make final
decisions over many
governmental actions.
The most persistent source
of political conflict is
between national and state
governments.
Lines of Power in Systems of Government
Copyright © 2011 Cengage
Lines of Power in Systems of Government
Lines of Power in Systems of Government
Federalism: Good or Bad?
The Delegated Powers
• Expressed/Enumerated powers: directly stated in
the Constitution
– Levy taxes, coin money, declare war, raise an army and
navy, regulate interstate commerce.
• Implied powers: derived from the Necessary and
Proper (elastic) clause; powers required to carry
out the expressed powers.
– National Banking System, Military Draft, Health Care,
education, transportation
• Inherent powers: powers exercised simply
because it is a government.
– Immigration and citizenship, Diplomacy
The States and the Nation
• Reserved powers: belong strictly to the states, any power
not delegated to the national government, reserved to
the people, or denied them by the Constitution (10th
Amendment).
– Police Powers: Heath, morals, safety, welfare
– Establish local gov’t, Professional Licensure, Education
– The supremacy clause makes U.S. acts and treaties supreme.
• Concurrent powers: shared powers exercised
independently.
– Legal code, tax, set up courts, eminent domain
• Denied Powers: forbidden to both national and state
governments.
– FED: tax exports, interfere with state responsibilities
– STATE: treaties/alliances, coining money, titles of nobility
– BOTH: take civil liberties (Habeas Corpus, ex post facto, Bill of
Obligations of the States
• Conduct and finance national elections
• Ratify Amendments
• Respect National Supremacy