Monday 8/31 •RAP •Are you supposed to follow local, state, or national laws? Explain. •Today: •CNN Student News •Take notes on PPT Ch. 4 Federalism •Test on Wednesday.
Jan 12, 2016
Monday 8/31• RAP
• Are you supposed to follow local, state, or national laws? Explain.
• Today:• CNN Student News• Take notes on PPT Ch. 4 Federalism• Test on Wednesday.
Federalism: The Division of Power Ch. 4.1
• Why Federalism?• Needed to build a central government strong enough to meet the nation’s needs but
would also preserve the strength of the states.• Most Framers wanted a limited government.
• They were afraid because too strong of a central government may take away individual liberty.• Governmental power must then be restrained• Needed to divide governmental power (as in federalism) so that the government could not be abusive.
Vocabulary• Delegated powers:• Powers delegated or granted to it in the
Constitution. There are three types: expressed powers, implied, and inherent.
• Expressed powers: These are sometimes called the “enumerated powers” and they are spelled out in the Constitution.• In Article 1. sec. 8: there are 18 clauses and 27
powers given to Congress—these are expressed powers.• Power to lay and collect taxes, to coin money, to
regulate foreign and interstate commerce, etc.• Article 2, sec. 2 givers several powers to the
President—act as commander in chief of the armed forces, grant reprieves and pardons, to make treaties, etc.
• Implied Powers: are not expressly stated in the Constitution but are reasonably suggested or implied, by the expressed powers.• This can be found in the expressed power of the Necessary and Proper Clause.
• This is sometimes referred to as the Elastic Clause, because it has been stretched to cover many situations.
• Ex. Building of the interstate highway systems, building of hydroelectric power dams, etc.
• Inherent Powers: this power belongs to the National government because it is the government of a sovereign state within the world.• These are powers that national governments have historically possessed.• Just a few powers: deport undocumented aliens, to acquire territory, give diplomatic
recognition to other states, and to protect the nation against rebellion.
Powers denied to the National Government1. Congress may not levy duties on exports; prohibit freedom of
religion, speech, press, or assembly; conduct illegal searches or seizures, etc.
2. They do not have the power to create a public school system for the nation, to enact uniform marriage and divorce laws, and to set up units of local government.
3. It does not have the power to take action that would threaten the existence of the Constitution.
The States• Reserved powers: those powers that the Constitution does not grant to the
National government and does not, at the same time, deny to the States.• So, any state can forbid persons under 18 to marry without parental consent, or those under
21 to buy liquor.• States can do many things: establish public schools, enact land use laws, etc.
• Powers denied to the States:• Cannot print or coin money; enter into any treaty, alliance, or confederation; or deprive any
person of life, liberty, and property without due process of the law.
• Exclusive powers: powers that can be exercised exclusively by the National government.• Concurrent powers: powers are those given to both the National government and
States.
Tuesday 9/1RAP
1. Who are the two people?
2. How are they dressed?3. Explain the caption in
relation to the cartoon.
Today:1. CNN Student news2. Finish PPT on
Federalism3. Federalist papers4. Federalism cases.5. Study Guide
Federal system and local governments• Government is distributed in terms of three levels: national, State, and local.
• Look at the diagram on page 94.**• Supremacy Clause: declares that the Constitution is the supreme law in the
land, meaning that the Constitution stands above all other forms of law in the US. • This clause joins the national government and the States into a single
governmental unit.• Supreme Court and Federalism:• Chief duties of the Supreme court is to apply the Supremacy Clause to the conflicts that
the dual system of government produces.
More Power to the States – page 96
• Read and answer the questions with the person sitting next to you.• You must both have the answers written in your notes.
• We will review the questions when everyone has had time to answer the questions.
National government and the 50 States: Ch. 4.2• The Constitution requires the National Government to guarantee
certain things to the States and makes it possible for the National Government to do certain things for the States.
• Nation’s obligations to the states are mostly found in Article IV of the Constitution.• The constitution requires the National gov. to “guarantee to every state in this
Union a Republican Form of Government” or meaning a representative government.
Look at the table on page 98; and answer the question below.
• Enabling Act: • Admitting new states: the area must first
ask Congress for admission, then the people of the territory must frame a proposed constitution, which is then voted by the people of the territory and if approved it is then submitted to Congress.
• Act of Admission: if Congress approves the constitution of the territory then they pass an act of admission, admitting the new State.• What was the deal with Arizona’s
admission as a state? Page 100• Second column; last paragraph starting with
Consider…
• Grants in aid programs: grants of federal money or other resources to the States and / or their cities, counties, and other local units.• Schools and colleges; flood control
work, roads and canals, etc.• More than 500 in operation now.
• Block grants: made for much more broadly defined purposes than are categorical grants, such as health care, social services, or welfare.• Fewer strings attached, so states
have greater freedom in deciding how to use the money.• Also, project grants which go for
things like research on cancer, diabetes, etc.
Interstate Relations Ch. 4.3• Interstate compacts:• No State can enter into any treaty, alliance,
or confederation, but with the consent of Congress they may enter into agreements among themselves and with foreign states.
• Full Faith and Credit Clause: shall be given in each State to the public Acts, Records, and judicial proceedings of every other State.• Williams v. North Carolina—divorce case
(page 106—right column)
• Extradition: the legal process by which a fugitive from justice in one State is returned to that State.
Close Up
• Read “ Should states be required to enforce federal laws?• Read through the questions.
• Answer in your notes numbers 2 and 3.
Wednesday 9/2• RAP• Imagine two candidates for the US House of Representatives have very different ideas
about education.• Candidate A favors a strong federal role in education.• Candidate B believes the important decisions about education should be made at the state and
local level.
• Which candidate would you vote for? Why?
• Today:• CE presentations• Federalist papers• Work on Study Guide
• Due the day of the test
The Federalist Papers
Handout on the Federalist Papers1. What are the Federalist Papers?2. What are the federalist papers used for today?3. Who were the authors and what were their qualifications for defending the
constitution?
Federalist Paper 23Alexander Hamilton 1. Where in the Constitution can you find these principles listed
together?2. Why did Hamilton need to convince the states to have a strong
central government?3. Explain which one of Hamilton's purposes of government do you
think is the most important for the United States today?
Federalist Paper 47James Madison 1. According to this excerpt, do you think Madison supported or
opposed the principle of "separation of powers"?2. Why do you think Madison held this view of the "separation of
powers"?3. What are the three branches of government, and what parts of the
Constitution address each?
Federalist Paper 51James Madison 1. Which of the following statements would Madison agree with based on his
views in the excerpt?• Government is necessary.• The people should elect government leaders who act like angels.• Elected government officials should be controlled by a system of "checks
and balances."2. What would you say was Madison's general opinion of people in government:
angels? devils? something else?3. Cite (including Article and section) an example of checks and balances.
Federalist Papers 72 & 78Alexander Hamilton
1. Why doesn’t Hamilton want term limits?2. What branch of government is the Federalist 78
addressing?3. Look up the following sections of the Constitution
and write down to which branch it refers, and what is says about terms and term limits.
A. Article 1 section 2.1 B. Article 1 section 3.1C. Article II section 1.1 D. Article III section 1
E. 22nd Amendment
Test on Wednesday!
Monday 1/26
• RAP• What is the name of your new nation?• Do you have any questions about your new nation?
• Today:• Finish creating your new nation. Have fun, but create a serious nation! • Create poster to present to class. • Unit Test on Wednesday; you will turn your study guide in at that time.
Formal Amendment Ch. 3.2• Constitution has been modified over the past 200
years.• Words and phrases have been added, eliminated, and / or
changed.• This process has happened in two ways:
• Formal amendment• Informal amendment
Formal Amendment
• Four possible methods of formal amendment• First method: may be proposed by two-thirds vote in each house of Congress
and be ratified by three fourths of the State legislatures.• 38 state legislatures must approve an amendment for it to become a part of the
Constitution.• 26 of the 27 amendments were adopted this way.
Formal amendments cont.• Second Method: may be proposed by Congress and then ratified by
conventions, in three fourths of the states. • 21st amendment, in 1933 was adopted in this way.
• Congress felt the elected delegates would most likely reflect public opinion.
Formal amendment cont.
• Third Method: may be proposed by a national convention, called by Congress at the request of two thirds of the State legislatures.
Formal amendments cont.
• Fourth Method:• May be proposed by a national convention and ratified by conventions in
three fourths of the States.
Federalism and Popular Sovereignty
• Proposal of amendments takes place at the national level and ratification is a State by State matter.• Amending the Constitution represents the will of the people.• Proposed amendments: • Congress proposes – States ratify
• 27 amendments-• Which is the most important amendment to you? Why?
Bill of Rights, pg.771-
• Were added less than three years after the Constitution became effective.• First proposed by the First Congress in 1789.• Ratified by the States in late 1791.• Sets out the basic rights of the people.
Informal Amendments Ch. 3.3
• Real key to constitutional change and development lies in the process of informal amendment.• The process by which over time many changes have been made in the
Constitution• Informal amendments are the result of the day-to-day, year to year experiences of
government.
Five basic ways informal takes place.• Basic legislation- passed a number of laws to spell
out several of the Constitution’s brief provisions.• Like… interstate commerce What is it that Congress has
the power to regulate?
• Executive Action- expanded executive action.• Executive agreement is a pact made by the President
directly with the head of a foreign state.
• Party Practices- Constitution makes no mention of political parties, yet they have played a major role in the shaping of government.• National conventions, electoral college
• Custom – many customs have developed in our governmental system.• Cabinet-an advisory body to the President.
Federalism
• Is a system of government in which a written constitution divides the powers of government on a territorial basis between a central, or national, government and several regional governments, usually called states or provinces.• Each level of government has its own powers.• Each of these levels alone cannot change the division of powers given by
constitution.• The US system of government is a prime example of federalism.• The constitution provides for a division of power between the National
government and the States.