1. Warm-up: Written Assignment (Define & Explain)
Define the principle of “federalism” and explain what it means in your own words.
List the types of powers of our gov’t.

2. Power and the Constitution
SSCG5: Explain how the United States Constitution grants and limits
the authority of public officials and government agencies.
ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS:
What powers were given to the federal and state
governments in the Constitution? What powers were denied
How is the power of the government limited by the Constitution?
What are examples of the expressed/enumerated, implied,
reserved, and concurrent powers?

3. The Federal System Federalism
Power is shared by national (or federal) government and the state
Both levels of government (federal & state) have authority over the people at the same time
People have to obey both federal and state laws
In order to make this work, the Constitution divided power of the government into 3 types
Enumerated/Expressed Powers
Reserved Powers
Concurrent Powers

4. Types of Powers Enumerated or Expressed Powers Reserved Powers
Definition: the powers specifically granted to the national government (Congress)
Reserved Powers
Definition: powers that are not given to the national government are by the states
Concurrent Powers
Definition: powers shared by the national and state government

5. Examples of Federal and State Powers
Enumerated
Concurrent
Reserved

6. The Supremacy Clause
What happens if national and state laws contradict each other or conflict?
Article VI:
Constitution and laws/treaties made by the Nat'l gov’t “shall be the supreme Law of the Land
Means national government cannot violate Constitution and state government cannot violate Constitution OR federal law

7. The Elastic Clause Implied Powers
Definition: powers held by the national government (Congress) that are not stated explicitly in the Constitution
Article I:
Congress has the power to do whatever is “necessary and proper” in order to carry out the expressed powers
Means Congress can stretch its powers to meet new needs (which is why it is called the elastic clause)

8. Limitations on Power Checks & Balances
Prevents any one branch of government from becoming too powerful
Supreme Court (Judicial Branch) can declare laws passed by Congress (Legislative Branch) unconstitutional
President (Executive Branch) can veto bills passed by Congress (Legislative Branch)
Congress (Legislative Branch) can override a veto if 2/3 of Senate and H.O.R. vote to do so

9. Powers Denied Article I
Cannot interfere with slave trade prior to 1808 (this was a compromise at the Constitutional Convention). Cannot favor one state over another
Cannot interfere with legal rights of individuals
Cannot suspend writ of habeas corpus
Requires that police bring people to court to explain why they are being held
Cannot pass bills of attainder
A type of law that punishes a person without a trial
Cannot pass ex post facto laws
A type of law that makes an act a crime after the fact

10. Powers Denied, cont.
Cannot tax exports (this was a compromise at the Constitutional Convention)
Cannot tax interstate commerce or show favoritism to any state (this was a problem under the Articles of Confederation)
Cannot withdraw money from the Treasury except for appropriations
Cannot give any titles of nobility

11. Public transportation
Key Topic
State Government
The 10th amendment to the U.S. Constitution states that powers not given to the Federal government are reserved for the states
Main Idea
Main Idea
Main Idea
Main responsibility
Public Education
Conduct elections
Main Idea
Transportation
Essential details Essential details Essential details Essential details
Elementary schools
Local
Public health
Build roads
Secondary schools
Maintain roads
State
Public safety
State colleges
Public transportation
Public welfare
National
So What? (What’s important to understand about this?)
Under the federal system of government the national government and state governments have some separate and some shared powers.

12. Key Topic
Federalism
The Constitution establishes a division of power between the national and state governments
Main idea
Main idea
Main idea
Nat’l gov’t powers
State gov’t powers
Shared powers
Enumerated Powers
Reserved powers
Concurrent powers
Powers expressed or implied
Powers not given to the Nat'l gov’t are reserved for state governments
Powers shared by Nat'l gov’t and state gov't
Foreign policy- wars, treaties
Public health
Enforce laws
Regulate Commerce-trade
Public safety- police
Establish courts
Regulate currency- money
Public welfare- education, elections
Collect taxes
So What? (What’s important to understand about this?)
The Constitution denies or limits powers to both the national government and the state governments.