Chapter 8:
State Government
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Section 8.1:
The Federal System
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The Constitution
and Federalism
A
federal system is where
the central government and
the states share power.
In
a federal system state and
federal power is limited.
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The Constitution and
Federalism
 The
supremacy clause of the
US Constitution says that the
federal law outweighs all state
laws. Which article discusses
supremacy? Article ____
 State
law must give way to
federal law; in other words if a
state law contradicts a federal
law – the federal law wins.
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States’ Protection by
Constitution
States
are protected
by the Constitution
in several ways.
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States’ Protection by
Constitution
No
state can be divided
or merged with another
one without its
permission.
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States’ Limitations by
Constitution
The
US Constitution also
identifies what state
governments are not
allowed to do.
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States’ Limitations by
Constitution
States
are forbidden to:
1. Make treaties with foreign nations
2. Declare war
3. Keep an army or navy in peacetime
4. Issue, or coin, their own money
5. Impose taxes on imports
Which level of government does have
the power to do these things?
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Reserved Powers
 The
Tenth Amendment says
that powers not listed in the
US Constitution are reserved
for the states.
 These
powers are called
reserved powers.
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Reserved Powers
Each
state is responsible
for the public health,
safety, and welfare of
its citizens.
States
organize local
governments for
counties, cities, and
towns.
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12
Federal Supremacy
Concurrent
powers
are shared by state and
federal governments.
For
example, both may
impose taxes and
borrow money.
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Governmental Cooperation
Both state and federal
governments fund a
variety of programs.
Usually the federal
government provides
grants-in-aid (awards
for money) to the states to
help them pay for some of
their programs.
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Governmental Cooperation
 States
must follow
Congress’ rules in order to
receive these grants.
 For
example, the federal
government contributes 90
percent of the money to build
interstate highways, but
states must comply with
federal regulations, such as
width of driving lanes.
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State Constitutions
 States
have different constitutions because of
their different beliefs about government.
 State
constitutions are similar because they all
have separation of powers between
executive, legislative, and judicial.
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State Constitutions
States constitutions
also have their own
Bill of Rights .
They included most of
the Bill of Rights of
the U.S. Constitution
and others such as
workers’ right to join
unions.
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Florida Constitution
 Florida’s
Bill of Rights are
found in Article 1 and are
referred to as Declaration
of Rights.
 Some
rights include
religious freedom, freedom
of speech and press, the
right to bear arms, right to
work, protection from
imprisonment for debt, and
the rights of the accused and
of victims.
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Laws that Promote the Common
Good

"Laws that promote the common good"- laws are
created to protect citizens and
their communities.
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State Constitutions
•
•
State constitutions also establish
different types of local
governments, including
counties, townships, and
municipalities.
States also can establish
independent state agencies,
boards, and commissions such as
boards of education.
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Venn Diagram Activity:
Organize the Following into State Government, Federal Government, or Both






The power to establish courts
The power to protect the
public’s health, welfare, and
morals
The power to provide an army
and a navy
The power to administer
elections
The power to levy taxes
The power to establish local
government systems
State






Both
The power to enact and
enforce laws
The power to declare war
The lengthier Constitution of
the two and has a greater
impact on the lives of citizens
daily
Contains the supremacy clause
Addresses public education,
motor vehicles and elections
Has only twenty-seven
amendments.
Federal
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