POL 1010 Lecture Notes - Lecture 4: Supremacy Clause, Commerce Clause, Joint Powers Authority
9/7 Federalism
Federalism: The division of sovereignties or authority between two or more levels of
government
o US has multiple levels of governments
National government, state government, etc..
o Purpose is to separate power
o Why do we keep states?
Purposes of our history
After the articles of confederation, the states did not want to give up
power
o International Comparisons
Most countries are a unitary government
England
Large countries with diverse populations tend to be federalist
That is how powers are separated
o 3 types of power
Granted or national
Power to do things like coin money, create army, etc. . .
Reserved or state
Ability to establish local governments, family law/ domestic relations,
most criminal laws, public safety
Concurrent or joint powers
Things that both state and national government can do
Examples are set up courts, collect taxes, hold elections
9/7 Federalism
Granted Powers
Expressed powers
Directly written in the constitution
Implied powers
Elastic clause
Idea that the national government has the ability to carry out any
means necessary by the situation
o Issues
Growth of defining federal power
Commerce clause
The government can regulate trade within states as well as with
foreign countries
With increased travel and easy abilities to trade between states, the
government is gaining more economic power.
Supremacy clause
Document Summary
Federalism: the division of sovereignties or authority between two or more levels of government: us has multiple levels of governments. After the articles of confederation, the states did not want to give up power. Large countries with diverse populations tend to be federalist. That is how powers are separated: 3 types of power. Power to do things like coin money, create army, etc. Ability to establish local governments, family law/ domestic relations, most criminal laws, public safety. Things that both state and national government can do. Examples are set up courts, collect taxes, hold elections. Idea that the national government has the ability to carry out any means necessary by the situation. The government can regulate trade within states as well as with foreign countries. With increased travel and easy abilities to trade between states, the government is gaining more economic power.
