Unit 6 Relationship Between States and Federal Governments

Read the text from the commerce clause and the elastic clause of the Constitution.

• The power "to regulate commerce with foreign nations, and among the several states, and with the Indian tribes."

• The 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."

These aspects of the Constitution are notable for

• A. 

  expanding the authority of the states to conduct their own affairs.

  These clauses granted power to the federal legislature to regulate trade, including between states, and pass laws for the entire country; they did not expand the power of states.

• B. 

  granting power to the legislative branch of the federal government.

  The commerce clause grants the US Congress the authority to regulate trade, while the elastic clause, also referred to as the Necessary and Proper Clause, empowers Congress to pass laws to ensure the effective functioning of government and society.

• C. 

  granting power to the executive branch of the federal government.

  These clauses granted power to the federal legislature, not the executive.

• D. 

  expanding the authority of court systems to resolve disputes.

  These clauses granted power to the US Congress, not to the judicial branch at any level of government.

Reserved powers are powers that:

• A. 

  Belong exclusively to the state governments.

• B. 

  Are granted exclusively to the federal government.

• C. 

  Are shared by both the federal and state governments.

• D. 

  Are implied by the Supremacy Clause.

Concurrent powers are powers that:

• A. 

  Belong exclusively to the federal government.

• B. 

  Belong exclusively to the state governments.

• C. 

  Are shared by both the federal and state governments.

• D. 

  Are granted only to local governments.

Read the excerpt from Executive Order 14012, issued by President Joe Biden on February 2, 2021, and answer the question.

Executive Order 14012 - Restoring Faith in Our Legal Immigration Systems and Strengthening Integration and Inclusion Efforts for New Americans
Sec. 5. Promoting Naturalization. . . . The Secretary of State, the Attorney General, and the Secretary of Homeland Security shall, within 60 days of the date of this order, develop a plan describing any agency actions . . . that they will take to:
(i) eliminate barriers in and otherwise improve the existing naturalization process, including by conducting a comprehensive review of that process with particular emphasis on the N-400 application, fingerprinting, background and security checks, interviews, civics and English language tests, and the oath of allegiance;
(ii) substantially reduce current naturalization processing times;
(iii) make the naturalization process more accessible to all eligible individuals, including through a potential reduction of the naturalization fee and restoration of the fee waiver process.

What does the executive order suggest about the Biden administration's policies?

• A. 

  The administration wanted to reduce the number of legal immigrants to the United States.

• B. 

  The administration wanted to encourage legal immigration to the Unites States.

• C. 

  The administration wanted to introduce more rigorous checks on potential legal immigrants.

  The administration ordered a review of current processes to ensure they were fair and not introducing undesired barriers

• D. 

  The administration wanted to protect domestic workers from competition for jobs.

A "republican form of government" is guaranteed by the Constitution. What does that mean?

• A. 

  you can only vote for Republicans

• B. 

  Democrats are not allowed

• C. 

  the people get to choose their leaders

• D. 

  the government is allowed to take away your rights