Federalism

The laws of our land

The men who wrote our countries Constitution were very concerned about power. They knew that our country's first laws, the Articles of Confederation, did not give the national government enough power.

The Articles of Confederation were the laws that united the states together after the American Revolution in 1776.

These articles had given too much power to the states.

In many ways, each state acted like a separate country. Strong national laws that were fair to everyone were needed to bind the country together. The states had to give up some of their powers to the national government if the country was to survive. The writers of the Constitution of the United States set up what is called a "federal" system of government.

A federal system divides powers between thte national government and the state governments. There is a delicate balance of power between the two government groups. When their is a disagreement between who has the power, then the courts will decide.

As an American, you are a citizen of both the United States and the state in which you live (California).

The Division of Powers in the Federal System

 This Chart will give you an idea of how some of the powers are divided between the U.S. government and the states under the Constitution signed in 1787. Other limits were put on the U.S. government in the Bill of Rights of 1791.

 

The U.S. government

The U.S. Congress is given the power to:
  • Regulate (control) trade among states and with foreign countries
  • To declare war.
  • Create a standing army.

State governments

State governments are given the power to :
  • Regulate trade within the state.
  • Set up marriage and divorce laws.
  • Set up driving and automobile laws

The United States and state governments

U.S. Flag . . . . . . . California Flag

Both the U.S. government and the state governments have the power to:

  • Collect taxes
  • Borrow money
  • Take private property for public use after paying a fair price.

Source; The Mini Page, by Betty Debnam - rev. 2/06