The Federal System

Unit 2
What is it?

 System of government created by the

U.S. Constitution that divides
governmental power between national
and state governments.
The Constitutional Division of
Powers
 The Constitution divides powers into 3
categories:
 Expressed
 Concurrent

 Reserved
Expressed Powers
 Powers specifically granted to the national
government
 Examples:
 Coin money
 Postal System
 Maintain military
 Declare War
 Regulate interstate and international commerce
 Immigration
 Negotiate treaties
Concurrent Powers
 Powers shared by the national and state
governments
 Examples:
 Protects civil rights and liberties
 Taxes
 Provide for public safety and health
 Establish courts
 Punish lawbreakers
 Borrow money
 Construct and maintain roads
Reserved Powers
 Powers belonging to state governments
 Comes from 10th Amendment – “powers not
specifically delegated to the national government are
reserved for the states”
 Examples:
 Establish local governments
 Establish schools
 Regulate marriage, divorce, and adoptions
 Regulate intrastate commerce
 Provide fire and police protection
 Conduct elections
 Enact license requirements
Why is federalism a good thing?

 Encourages political participation

 Promotes democracy
 States are unified and unique
What are the drawbacks?

 Inconsistency between states

 Tension between national and state
governments
Types of Federalism

Federalism has changed over the course

of American history …
 Dual Federalism (1790s – 1930s)
 Cooperative Federalism (1930s – 1950s)
 Regulated Federalism (1960s)
 New Federalism (1970s -1980s)
Dual Federalism

 Two levels of government have clearly

defined and separate responsibilities

National
Government

State Government
Cooperative Federalism

 Era of shared power between federal,

state and local governments

Like marble cake,

the levels of
government are
intertwined and
less clearly defined
Regulated Federalism

 Huge increase in federal involvement in

state and local governments

N A T I O N A L

State
Local
New Federalism

 Power is shifted back to the states

during Nixon and Reagan presidencies

Power Back to the

states
State Governments

 U.S. Constitution has one requirement

for states …
state constitutions must support a
State legislatures

 Responsibilities: make laws, levy taxes,

and create budgets
Apportionment

 The distribution of seats in the U.S.

House of Representatives and state
legislatures
Gerrymandering

 When lawmakers draw district

boundaries in a manner that benefits
them or their party
Redistricting

 Redrawing of voting districts to reflect

population changes
State Governors

 Manage the executive branch for the

state

Georgia’s Governor:
Nathan Deal
State Court System
 Trial Courts: cases that effect daily lives of
citizens
 High level trial courts: major criminal cases
and law suits
 Lower Level trial courts:
 Municipal Courts – minor violations, divorce,
adoptions
 Small Claims Courts – disputes involving small
amounts of $
 Appeals Courts: cases that are appealed to
reverse the decision of trial courts
Local Governments
County Government

 Judges
 Tax commissioner
 Sheriff’s Office
 Health services
Mayor-Council System

 Divides power between an elected

mayor and city council
Commission System

 Qualified professionals head city

commissions
 Skilled professionals make decisions
Council-Manager System

 Combines democratically elected council

with professional city management
Special-Purpose Districts

 Provides a specific function

 For example: School boards