GO #6 Federalism

The Constitution _denies_ certain powers to both the ___national__ and __states_ governments.

Primary Responsibilities of each level of government National State Local »Conducts foreign policy Promote public » 1000s »Regulates commerce » health » Derive their »provides for common defense »safety power from the »welfare __state__ Tensions exist when federal __mandates_ require state actions without adequate funding. The expansion of the national government’s powers into areas traditionally reserved to the states has altered the relationship of states to the national government.

The U.S. Constitution establishes the principle of _federalism_, which is the __division__ of power between the ___states__ and __national_ government.

The national government is ___supreme___

Powers not given to the national government are __reserved__ for the states. (10th Amendment)

Separation of Powers

⇒ The powers of the national government are separated among _three_ branches of the government in ways that __limit_ any one branch from abusing its power.

⇒ The U.S. Constitution defines the powers of the three branches of the national government

o Article 1 ___Legislative Branch____: Create laws o Article 2 ___Executive Branch____: Enforces laws o Article 3 ___Judicial Branch_____: Interprets laws

Checks and Balances: Each of the three branches of the national governments limits the exercise of power by the other two branches.

Legislative Branch -Checks Executive • Override presidential

vetoes • Impeach and convict a

president -Checks Judicial • confirm or refuse to

confirm federal judges/justices

• impeach and convict judges/justices

Executive Branch -Checks Legislative • Proposes legislation • Prepares annual budget

for Congress to approve • Call special session of

Congress • vetoes legislation

congress has passed -Checks Judicial • appoints

judges/justices

Judicial Branch - Checks Legislative • Declare acts of

Congress to be unconstitutional

-Checks Executive • Declare executive

actions to be unconstitutional