Chapter 12 Section 1 The Federal System

I. Constitutional Basis for Federalism  Federalism  The Federal System  The sharing of power between the central and state governments  The Sharing of Power  Not equal  If a state law conflicts with a national law, the national law is followed  The writers of the constitution wanted to place some limits on the national power  Yet not make the states to be too strong

– Protecting States The Constitution protects states in many ways – No state can split or merge with another without the states consent – States can maintain a militia » Military force – The National Guard Powers prohibited to the state – Cannot declare war – Issue their own money – Impose taxes on imports from other countries and states – Cannot create a treaty with another country

 Reserved Powers  Powers in the constitution that are reserved for the states  Ex.  Marriage laws  Regulate education  Hold elections  State responsibilities  Public Health  Safety  Welfare  Building roads and bridges  Federal Supremacy  Concurrent Powers  Those shared by the State and Federal Government  Federal Government  Supreme law of the land  This is the Supremacy Clause

II. Government Cooperation  State and federal government cooperate to fund different programs  Grants-in aid  Awards of money from the federal government  Article IV  Encourages interstate cooperation  Accepts the laws and court decisions of other states  Car registration  Extradition  Cannot punish a person who breaks a law in another state  Governors will ask for the criminal  When retrieved he is extradited

State Constitutions – Typical forms and content Separation of powers – Legislative – Executive – Judicial Provide rights not found in the national constitution – Unions – Rights of the handicapped Establish different types of local governments Raise and spend money Established independent state agencies