Federalism Round Up-Chapter 4

Section 1 :

The Division of Powers- The powers are divided into three different groups: National powers, Concurrent powers, and State powers. Each of the groups have different kinds of power. There are three powers delegated to National powers they are expressed powers, implied powers, and inherent powers. The powers reserved to the states are those powers that the Constitution does not grant to the national government. Most of the powers the Constitution delegates to the National Government are exclusive powers and concurrent powers.

The Sumpreme Law of the Land- The division of powers in the American federal system produce a dual system of government, one in which two basic levels of government operate over the same territory and the same people at the same time. This is bound to have conflict between the national and state laws. To solve this problem the Framers of the Constitution added the Supremacy Clause. This means that the Constitution stands above all other forms of law.

Section 2 :

Admitting New States- Only the Congress has the power to admit new states into the Union. The Constitution only places one restriction on that power. A new state cannot be created by taking territiory away from one or more of the existing states without the consent of the legistatures and states involved. Congress has admitted 37 states since the original 13 were added. In order to be admitted it has to pass the enabling act and the act of admission.

The Nation's Obligations to the States- The Constitution places several different obligations on the National Government for the benifit of the states. It requires the National Government to guarentee every state in this union a republican form of government or representative government. Invasion and Internal disorder is also a big deal. Today it is clear that an invasion of any one of the 50 states would be met as an attack on the whole United States. 

Section 3 :

Interstate Compacts- With the consent of the Congress, States may enter themselves into a interstate compact, which is an agreement among themselves and foreign states. By 1920, there had only been 26 compacts made. Today there is over 200. All of the 50 states have at least joined in two of them. These compacts allow States to share important law-enforcement data.

Full Faith and Credit- The Full Faith and Credit Clause mostly comes to play in court matters. It ensures that records such as birth certificates and marriage licenses are recognized in all 50 states. That way a person can prove age, place of birth, maritial status, and similar facts that are necessary. The validity of these documents will be recognized in each of the 50 states.