Federalism

1
Federalism

• The relationship of state governments to the
  national government in the federal system.

2
Federalism

• The Constitution of the United States of America
  establishes the principle of federalism, which is
  the division of power between the states and the
  national government.

3
Federalism

• How does the Constitution of the United States of
  America outline powers divided and shared among
  the national, state, and local levels of
  government?

4
Federalism

• The Constitution of the United States of America
  establishes a federal form of government in which
  the national government is supreme.

5
Federalism

• The powers of the national government are either
  expressed or implied in the Constitution of the
  United States of America.
• Some powers of the national government belong
  only to that part of the government.

• Expressed Powers -- these powers are
  specifically written in the Constitution
• Implied powers -- these powers are interpreted
  from other powers that are listed in the
  Constitution.
• Powers like declaring war and deciding who can
  immigrate to the USbelong only to the national
  government.

6
Federalism

• The powers not given to the national government
  by the Constitution of the United States of
  America are reserved for the states.

• Powers that belong only to the states include
  things like
• issuing drivers licenses
• issuing hunting and fishing licenses
• deciding educational issues within the state.

7
Federalism

• The Constitution of the United States of America
  denies powers to both the national and state
  governments.

• One thing that neither government can do is take
  away the individual right of the citizens of the
  nation and of the states. No one can take away
  your freedom of religion or speech, or any of
  your other rights.

8
Federalism

• The National Government gets its power from the
  U.S. Constitution.
• The State government gets its power from the
  State Constitution.
• The powers of the local governments in Virginia
  are derived from the state.

9
Federalism

• Primary responsibilities of each level of
  government

• NationalConducts foreign policy, regulates
  commerce
• StatePromotes public health, safety, and welfare

10
Separation of Powers

• Legislative, executive, and judicial powers are
  separated at the state and national levels of
  government

• Legislative Powers -- lawmaking
  responsibilities of government
• Executive Powers -- the enforcement of all laws
  passed by government and actions taken by the
  government
• Judicial Powers -- interprets or explains the
  laws and how they should be followed.

11
Separation of Powers
12
Separation of Powers

• National Government

• Legislative - Makes laws for nation approves
  annual budget approves presidential appointments
  
• Executive - Executes law of the land prepares
  annual budget for congressional action appoints
  cabinet officers, ambassadors, and federal
  judges administers federal bureaucracy
• Judicial - Supreme CourtHas power of judicial
  review
• Federal courtsTry cases involving federal law
  and U.S. Constitutional questions

13
Separation of Powers

• Virginia State Government

• Legislative - Makes laws for Virginia approves
  biennial (two-year) budget exercises power under
  the 10th amendment
• Executive - Executes laws of Virginia prepares
  biennial budget for General Assembly appoints
  cabinet officers and boards administers state
  bureaucracy grants pardons
• Judicial - Supreme CourtHas power of judicial
  review over state laws
• Circuit courtsTry civil and criminal cases

14
Separation of Powers

• Local Government

• Legislative - Makes ordinances for community
  approves annual budget limits power to that
  delegated by the state
• Executive - Elected or appointed by the Board of
  Supervisors or City Council city or county
  managers hired by local legislatures
• Judicial - Local courtsHear cases under the
  authority provided by state legislation

15
Checks and Balances

• Separating power among the legislative,
  executive, and judicial branches helps prevent
  any one branch from abusing its power.

• Each branch has the ability to check the power of
  the other branches against their own
• All branches of government in every level of
  government are co-equal!
• No one branch is more important than the other
  two.

16
Checks and Balances

• A system of checks and balances gives each of the
  three branches of government ways to limit the
  powers of the other branches.

• Legislative powers over
• The executive branch
• Overrides vetoes
• Impeaches a President
• The judicial branch
• Approves federal judges
• Impeaches federal judges

17
Checks and Balances

• A system of checks and balances gives each of the
  three branches of government ways to limit the
  powers of the other branches.

• Executive powers over
• The legislative branch
• Vetoes acts of Congress
• Calls Congress into special session
• The judicial branch
• Appoints federal judges

18
Checks and Balances

• A system of checks and balances gives each of the
  three branches of government ways to limit the
  powers of the other branches.

• Judicial powers over
• The legislative branch
• Declares laws unconstitutional
• The executive branch
• Declares executive acts unconstitutional

19
Checks and Balances
20
Amendments

• What is the procedure for amending the
  Constitution of the United States of America?

• Process for amending the Constitution of the
  United States of America
• Action by Congress or convention
• Ratification by the states
• The amendment process is complex to date, only
  27 amendments have been added.