The Federal System

The Federal System

By Cedric Gillette

Constitution

​In writing the Constitution, the Framers created a stronger central government. However, they believed that state governments were important as well. Anti-Federalists like Patrick Henry were against giving states less power. Even James Madison, who believed in a strong central government, knew that it was important for states to keep certain powers.

Subject | Subject

Multiple Choice

The Framers of the Constitution created a federal government that ___________________ under the Articles of Confederation.

• is stronger than it was

• is weaker than it was

• has the same amount of power that it had

• takes away protections that the states had

ARTICLE IV

​Article IV, Section 1 says that each state must respect legal actions taken by other states. Because of this section, for example, one state accepts a driver’s license given by another.

• Article IV, Section 2 promises that each state will treat the people of other states equally. For example, states cannot give people from another state tougher punishment for a crime than their own citizens would get.

• Article IV, Section 3 guarantees each state’s area. The section says that land cannot be taken from any state to make a new state without its approval. It also says that two states cannot be joined into a new state unless they agree.

• Article IV, Section 4 promises each state a republican form of government. It also vows to protect that government against an enemy attack or a revolt.

Subject | Subject

Some text here about the topic of discussion

Multiple Choice

Article IV of the Constitution requires that each state respect the legal actions of other states.

• TRUE

• FALSE

​Reserved Powers

​Reserved powers are given only to states. Reserved powers come from the Tenth Amendment. It says that all powers not given to the federal government are reserved for the states.

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​Some powers are held by both the national and state governments. These shared powers are called concurrent powers. The Constitution does not mention concurrent powers. Yet, both levels of government need such powers in order to function. Examples of powers that both the state and federal governments hold include the powers to tax, set up courts, and enforce and create laws. Which kind of power is building highways? If you said “concurrent power,” you are right.

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Subject | Subject

function - to serve a purpose​

Multiple Choice

The states are given reserved powers in the _______________ of the Constitution.

• Fourth Amendment

• Fifth Amendment

• Nineteenth Amendment

• Tenth Amendment

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is a concurrent power?

• power to declare war

• power to tax

• power to issue money

• power to make international treaties

Sharing and Dividing Powers​

Subject | Subject

​The federal government has three kinds of power.

• Expressed powers are those listed in the Constitution. Most of these powers are given in Article I, Section 8.

• Implied powers are not listed in the Constitution but can be based on it. For instance, it says that the president is commander in chief of the armed forces. Therefore, the president may send troops in response to a serious crisis.

• Inherent powers are the kinds of powers a government has simply because it is a government. Buying land from another country is an example.

Multiple Choice

The Constitution gives the federal government expressed powers, implied powers, and ___________ powers.

• supreme

• concurrent

• reserved

• inherent

​Limits on State Power

​The Constitution does put some limits on the powers of the states. For example, states cannot declare war, issue their own money, or impose taxes on imports from other countries or states. Nor can states make treaties with another country. In addition, according to the Fourteenth Amendment, states cannot take away the rights of their citizens “without due process of law.” Also, states are required to give every citizen “equal protection of the laws.”

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​Another limit to state power comes from the supremacy clause. Article VI says that the Constitution, and all federal laws, “shall be the supreme Law of the Land.” If a state law conflicts with the words of the Constitution or a federal law, the state law is thrown out.

Subject | Subject

​supremacy clause -

the clause in Article VI of the Constitution that makes federal laws prevail over state laws when there is a conflict

Multiple Choice

The Bill of Rights does not apply to the states.

• TRUE

• FALSE

Multiple Choice

If a state law is in conflict with a federal law, the federal law is upheld and the state law is thrown out.

• TRUE

• FALSE

​Working Together

​The federal and state governments also work together. Each year the federal government gives billions of dollars to the states in grants-in-aid. This money is used to meet goals set by Congress. Grants might be for education, health care, or other purposes. Some grants give specific instructions to states. Others set goals but do not detail how to reach those goals.

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Multiple Choice

Grants-in-aid are given to states by _________________.

• more wealthy states

• local charities

• schools and hospitals

• the federal government

​The Constitution of Florida

​Florida’s first constitution was drafted in 1838. It began with a declaration of rights, including voting. But many rights applied only to free white men. The constitution made it clear that Florida was a slave territory. It banned lawmakers from passing “laws for the emancipation of slaves.” It allowed them to pass laws to stop free African Americans from entering the state.

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Multiple Choice

Florida's 1838 constitution stated that all people are equal before the law regardless of sex, race, and religion.

• TRUE

• FALSE

Florida's Constitution Today

​Article XI explains that Florida’s constitution requires a review every 20 years to see if it still meets the state’s needs. The review commission has 37 members, including the state attorney general plus 15 members selected by the governor, 9 members selected by the speaker of the house, 9 members selected by the senate president, and 3 members selected by the chief justice of the state supreme court. The commission can propose an amendment or revision. The article further states that the state legislature and the people can also propose an amendment. Any proposed amendment must be approved by 60 percent of the state’s voters before it can take effect.

Subject | Subject

Multiple Choice

How often is the Florida Constitution reviewed to determine whether it still meets the state's needs?

• every 10 years

• every 20 years

• every 25 years

• every 15 years