I. Federal Government – The federal government is the organization through which political authority is exercised at the national level, it is the government of the United States.
Federal Powers – The federal powers are the powers listed in the U.S. Constitution and the ones necessary for the federal government to function.
a. Delegated powers – Delegated powers are the specific powers assigned to the federal government.
b. Expressed powers – Expressed powers are the powers listed in the U.S. Constitution.
c. Implied powers – Implied powers are not written in the U.S. Constitution but they are the powers that are necessary and proper in order for the federal government to carry out the expressed powers.
d. Inherent powers – Inherent powers are not listed in the U.S. Constitution but they are the powers necessary for the federal government to function.
Summary of Services – The services of the federal government are to protect, assist or manage issues that are of interest or concern of the entire country. For example, the federal government provides post offices and money, manages relationships with other countries and between states, determines naturalization laws and supports a military.
II. State Government – The state government is the organization through which political authority is exercised at the state level; it is the government of a specific state.
State Powers – The state powers are the powers not listed for the federal government in the U.S. Constitution and the powers necessary for the states to function.
a. Reserved powers - Any power that is not given to the federal government is given to the state governments.
Summary of Services – The services of the state governments are to protect and regulate issues that impact the entire state. States provide regulations for local government services, grant business licenses, driver’s licenses and teaching certificates and provide public safety through police, fire and highway safety.
III. Concurrent Powers – Concurrent powers are powers that belong to the federal and state governments.
Examples: collect taxes, build roads, borrow money, establish courts, make and enforce laws, spend money for the general welfare, charter banks and corporations
IV. Local Government – Local government is the governing body of a municipality or county.
Local Powers – Local powers are given to local governments by state governments.
Summary of Services – Citizens come in contact with many local governments services on a daily basis. Local governments provide police and fire protection, build roads, create parks, utilities and recycling.
Excerpts from Article 1, Section 8 of the U.S. Constitution – Sample Answers
Directions: For each excerpt of Article I, Section 8, summarize the text in your own words.
What it says:
What it means:
SECTION. 8. The Congress shall have Power To lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises, to pay the Debts and provide for the common Defence and general Welfare of the United States; but all Duties, Imposts and Excises shall be uniform throughout the United States;
the power to set taxes, tariffs and other means of raising federal revenue, and to authorize the expenditure of all federal funds
To borrow Money on the credit of the United States;
The federal government borrows money by issuing bonds. This creates a national debt, which the United States is obligated to repay.
To regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among the several States, and with the Indian Tribes;
allows Congress to regulate business activities "among the states."
To establish an uniform Rule of Naturalization, and uniform Laws on the subject of Bankruptcies throughout the United States;
Establish rules for naturalization or immigrants becoming citizens
To coin Money, regulate the Value thereof, and of foreign Coin, and fix the Standard of Weights and Measures;
Coin money
To establish Post Offices and post Roads;
Establish post offices
To constitute Tribunals inferior to the supreme Court;
Create courts below the Supreme Court
To declare War, grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal, and make Rules concerning Captures on Land and Water;
Declare war
To raise and support Armies, but no Appropriation of Money to that Use shall be for a longer Term than two Years;
Create and support an Army
To provide and maintain a Navy; To make Rules for the Government and Regulation of the land and naval Forces;
Create and support a Navy
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.
Congress can create laws that are necessary and proper to carry out their powers
Word/Term
Part of Speech
Definition
concurrent powers
noun
powers shared by the national, state, and/or local government
expressed or enumerated powers
noun
the powers specifically given to the federal government, also known as delegated powers; they may not be used by state governments
federal government
noun
the national level of government; the government of the United States
federalism
noun
a system of government in which power is divided and shared between national, state, and local government
implied powers
noun
powers not written in the U.S. Constitution but are necessary and proper in order for the federal government to carry out the expressed powers
inherent powers
noun
powers not listed in the U.S. Constitution but are necessary for the federal government to function
local government
noun
the governing body of a municipality or county
reserved powers
noun
powers that are not granted to the federal government that belong to (are reserved for) the states and the people
state government
noun
the government of an individual state
Tenth Amendment
proper noun
the final amendment in the Bill of Rights, it states: ”The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.”
Federal Powers – The federal powers are the powers listed in the U.S. Constitution and the ones necessary for the federal government to function.
a. Delegated powers – Delegated powers are the specific powers assigned to the federal government.
b. Expressed powers – Expressed powers are the powers listed in the U.S. Constitution.
c. Implied powers – Implied powers are not written in the U.S. Constitution but they are the powers that are necessary and proper in order for the federal government to carry out the expressed powers.
d. Inherent powers – Inherent powers are not listed in the U.S. Constitution but they are the powers necessary for the federal government to function.
Summary of Services – The services of the federal government are to protect, assist or manage issues that are of interest or concern of the entire country. For example, the federal government provides post offices and money, manages relationships with other countries and between states, determines naturalization laws and supports a military.
II. State Government – The state government is the organization through which political authority is exercised at the state level; it is the government of a specific state.
State Powers – The state powers are the powers not listed for the federal government in the U.S. Constitution and the powers necessary for the states to function.
a. Reserved powers - Any power that is not given to the federal government is given to the state governments.
Summary of Services – The services of the state governments are to protect and regulate issues that impact the entire state. States provide regulations for local government services, grant business licenses, driver’s licenses and teaching certificates and provide public safety through police, fire and highway safety.
III. Concurrent Powers – Concurrent powers are powers that belong to the federal and state governments.
Examples: collect taxes, build roads, borrow money, establish courts, make and enforce laws, spend money for the general welfare, charter banks and corporations
IV. Local Government – Local government is the governing body of a municipality or county.
Local Powers – Local powers are given to local governments by state governments.
Summary of Services – Citizens come in contact with many local governments services on a daily basis. Local governments provide police and fire protection, build roads, create parks, utilities and recycling.
Excerpts from Article 1, Section 8 of the U.S. Constitution – Sample Answers
Directions: For each excerpt of Article I, Section 8, summarize the text in your own words.
What it says:
What it means:
SECTION. 8. The Congress shall have Power To lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises, to pay the Debts and provide for the common Defence and general Welfare of the United States; but all Duties, Imposts and Excises shall be uniform throughout the United States;
the power to set taxes, tariffs and other means of raising federal revenue, and to authorize the expenditure of all federal funds
To borrow Money on the credit of the United States;
The federal government borrows money by issuing bonds. This creates a national debt, which the United States is obligated to repay.
To regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among the several States, and with the Indian Tribes;
allows Congress to regulate business activities "among the states."
To establish an uniform Rule of Naturalization, and uniform Laws on the subject of Bankruptcies throughout the United States;
Establish rules for naturalization or immigrants becoming citizens
To coin Money, regulate the Value thereof, and of foreign Coin, and fix the Standard of Weights and Measures;
Coin money
To establish Post Offices and post Roads;
Establish post offices
To constitute Tribunals inferior to the supreme Court;
Create courts below the Supreme Court
To declare War, grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal, and make Rules concerning Captures on Land and Water;
Declare war
To raise and support Armies, but no Appropriation of Money to that Use shall be for a longer Term than two Years;
Create and support an Army
To provide and maintain a Navy; To make Rules for the Government and Regulation of the land and naval Forces;
Create and support a Navy
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.
Congress can create laws that are necessary and proper to carry out their powers
Word/Term
Part of Speech
Definition
concurrent powers
noun
powers shared by the national, state, and/or local government
expressed or enumerated powers
noun
the powers specifically given to the federal government, also known as delegated powers; they may not be used by state governments
federal government
noun
the national level of government; the government of the United States
federalism
noun
a system of government in which power is divided and shared between national, state, and local government
implied powers
noun
powers not written in the U.S. Constitution but are necessary and proper in order for the federal government to carry out the expressed powers
inherent powers
noun
powers not listed in the U.S. Constitution but are necessary for the federal government to function
local government
noun
the governing body of a municipality or county
reserved powers
noun
powers that are not granted to the federal government that belong to (are reserved for) the states and the people
state government
noun
the government of an individual state
Tenth Amendment
proper noun
the final amendment in the Bill of Rights, it states: ”The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.”