The basics of federalism

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The basics of federalism

What is Federalism?

• Federalism was a word to know, so we should be familiar with the book definition. However, that does not mean that it is something that we easily understand.

• According to our book, notes etc.. Federalism means _______________________________

• _____________________________________

What is federalism

• In order for federalism to make sense, we must stop thinking about our government as some big group that is out there making decisions and controlling our lives.

• Instead, we need to think of our government as being made up of everyday people who we choose to give power to

What is federalism?

• We already know that federalism is a type of government in which a written constitution divides the powers of government between a national government and regional governments.

• This means that each level of government has its own areas of authority where it can not be told what to do.

Separation and types of power

• Since there are some areas where the federal government in Washington D.C. has authority and there are some areas where the state governments have authority, our country needed to decide how these powers would be split up and who would have authority in certain situations.

Separation and types of power

• Overall, the best way to understand how power is divided is to think of who a situation will affect.

• If it is a situation that will affect the citizens of several states, most times this will be the responsibility of the ___________________ government.

• If it is a situation that will affect the citizens just a few states, most times this will be the responsibility of the _____________ government.

Types of power

• There are many types of power that are given to state and federal government. Right now we will concentrate on 4 main types of power

• Types of power:

– Concurrent

– Expressed

– Implied

– Reserved

Types of power: Concurrent

• There are some things that both the state government and federal government are equally responsible for.

• A concurrent power is something that the state government and the federal government both have the right to do

• Your book gives four specific concurrent powers. On your own list them on the next slide

1.

2.

3.

4.

Concurrent powers

Types of power: Expressed power

• Expressed powers are specifically given to the National government and are written down in the constitution.

States can not do any of these things.

• Decisions that a majority of Americans should care about will be handled by the Federal government in

Washington D.C.

• Ex. Going to war, Taxes that go to the federal government

• On your own give me 8 more powers that would be handled by the Federal government on the next slide

• 1.

• 2.

• 3.

• 4.

• 5.

• 6.

• 7.

• 8.

Expressed powers

Inherent and Implied powers

Both of these powers are only for the national government, but they are not written in the constitution. Instead, they are assumed to be powers of the national government based on other things written in the constitution.

Inherent Powers

• Inherent powers are not written in the constitution, but can be thought of as powers that exist because the United States is a sovereign country.

• Inherent powers are the Common Sense powers that exist because a country is a country.

• Every country in the world have inherent powers and they are all pretty much the same

Inherent powers

• Inherent powers come from other specific powers written into the constitution

• Ex. An expressed power that the National government has is the power to create treaties and agreements with other countries.

The inherent power that goes along with this is that the National government has the inherent power to recognize diplomats

(decision makers) from other countries

Inherent Powers

• On this slide list the 5 inherent powers listed in your book.

• 1.

• 2.

• 3.

• 4.

• 5.

Implied powers

• Implied powers are not written in the constitution, but are things that can be thought of as convent and useful for our country to run effectively.

• The authority to use implied powers comes from the “Necessary and proper power” clause in the constitution.

• On the next slide find and write down this clause.

Be sure to cite where it can be found in the constitution.

Necessary and proper clause

Types of implied power

• List 8 of the implied powers given in your book

• 1.

• 2.

• 3.

• 4.

• 5.

• 6.

• 7.

• 8.

Reserved Powers

• Reserved Powers are the powers that are reserved or saved for the states.

• The National government can not do any of the reserved powers

• The authority for reserved powers is given in the 10 th amendment of the constitution.

Reserved Powers

• Since the reserved powers are given to the states, the range of reserved powers is huge.

Remember, situations and decisions that affect the citizens of just a few states will fall under reserved powers, and will be handled by state, not national, government

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