Admission of New States No state can be created by taking territory from a current state without consent Subject to presidential veto Enabling Act –signed by president, people in territory wanting to be a state can prepare a constitution Constitution approved by a popular vote in territory Congress then passes an act making the territory a state
Admission of New States Puerto Rico, the 51st State? Debated by Puerto Ricans Puerto Ricans are US citizens and follow US laws Puerto Ricans cannot vote in national elections and do not pay income taxes Puerto Ricans can serve in the military Requirements to speak English? Weakening of their heritage? Increased support to become 51st state in last 30 years
Interstate Relations: Full Faith and Credit States must recognize legal proceeding from other states Applies only to civil law – relating to disputes b/w individuals, groups, or the state One state cannot enforce another state’s criminal law Why do we need full faith and credit? Records = legal documents Judicial proceedings = court actions
Interstate Relations: Privileges and Immunities States cannot discriminate against the citizens of another state Pass through states, marry, make contracts, do business “reasonable discrimination” – voting, jury duty, use of public facilities, residency requirements to register to vote, attendance/tuition of state sponsored schools
Interstate Relations: Extradition Governor of the state to which a fugitive flees is responsible for returning them Supreme Court has loosened the requirement of Gov. Some governors have and can refuse, most comply
Interstate Relations: Interstate Compacts Written agreements between two or more states National government or foreign countries can also be part of a compact Congress must approve Boundaries, roads/bridges, tolls, pollution, business
Interstate Relations: Lawsuits States can sue one another Heard only in the Supreme Court Water disputes, pollution, boundary lines
States’ Rightist Versus Nationalists States’ rights position – favors state and local action in dealing with problems States created the national government States’ governments are closer to the people and can make better decisions based on the needs of the people Nationalist position – favors national action in dealing with problems The people created national and state governments National government speaks for all people
Mandate and Restraint Mandate – federal order requiring states to provide a service or undertake an activity in order to meet minimum requirements set by Congress Restraint – Congress prohibits a state or local government from performing a specific function or power
Federalism and public policy Sunset laws – these kind of laws require periodic checks of government to see if they are still needed Sunshine law – prohibits official from holding closed meetings Bureaucracy – organization of government administrators for the purpose of carrying out legislation