Federalism Round-Up

In your blog:  Pick two areas from each of the three sections in Chapter 4.  Write a paragraph on those areas and what you have learned in regards to each area.  You should have six total paragraphs.

Chapter 4 Section 1:
  The States:  Some powers are reserved for the states while others are denied to them.  Most of what government does in our country now is done by the states, not the National government.  Powers the state holds  are to protect and promote public health, morals, safety, and general welfare.  Powers that are denied to the states include: they cannot enter into any treaty, alliance, or confederation, print or coin money, or deprive any person of life, liberty, or property without due process.
   The Federal System and Local Governments:  The US government is discussed in three levels: national, state, and local.  But there are only two basic levels national and state.  All of the local governments are parts of the state governments.  When local powers exercise their powers, they are actually exercising state power.
Chapter 4 Section 2:
   Invasion and Internal Disorder:  If one of the 50 states were to be attacked, it would be an attack on the United States.  In the 1780s the states had to pledge that an attack on any single state would be met as an attack on all states.  Each state will keep the peace within its own borders.  Federal forces have been used to restore order within a state.
   Admitting New States:  Only congress has the power to admit new states.  There is one restriction, a new state cannot be created by  taking territory from one or more of the existing states without consent of the legislature of the states involved.  The process for admitting a new state is fairly simple.  Statehood asks congress for admission, they pass an enabling act, convention prepares constitution.  When the constitution is approved it is submitted to the congress.  Congress passes an act of admission, and if the president signs the act the new state enters the union.
Chapter 4 Section 3:
Interstate Compacts:  States cannot enter into treaties, alliances, or confederations.  But with the consent of congress they may enter interstate compact-agreements among themselvs and with foreign states.  There are now 200 compacts in force.  All 50 states joined two of the compacts: the compact for the supervisioin of parolees and probationers and the compact on juveniles.  These enable states to share important law-enforcement data.  Other compacts include: conserving reasouces like water, oil, wildlife, prevent forest fires, and harbor pollution, and many more.
Extradition:  This is the legal process by which a fugitive from justice in one state is reaturned to that state.  It is designed to prevent a person from escaping justice by fleeing the state.  Governers regularly approve the extradition request they recieve from other states. 

Fedralism

1.  What does Federalism mean by definition and what does Federalism mean to you?
Federalism: a system of government in which a written constituiton divides power between a central, or national, government and several regional governments.
Federalsim: A government that seperates power

2.  List and describe the three powers of the National Government.
The three powers are Expressed, Implied, and Inherent...
Expressed: Congress has the power to lay and collect taxes, duties, imposts and excises, to pay the debts and provide for the general welfare of the United States.
Implied:  Congress claims granted by the elastic clause under under article 1 section 8 of the constitution.  Also said to be powers given to the people of authority to carry out their jobs.
Inherent: Powers delegated to the government because it is the government of a sovereign state within the world community.

3.  Explain the division of powers and why it is important?
The division of powers seperates all of the power so not one area has all of the power.  This is important so that no area of government will reign over another.

4.  What is the Supremacy Clause and what is its function?
The supremacy clause states that the constitution is the "law of the land" and no other laws will take there place.  The purpose of this is to make sure the states use there power in the correct way.  A state has its own laws but it still has to abide by the federal laws.

5.  Find a site on the Internet that deals with Federalism.  Take 10 minutes and review that site.  Provide the link and provide some of the useful information that you found to help you better understand what Federalism is and how it works.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federalism_in_the_United_States

• focuses on limiting the authority of the federal government
•  relationship between state governments and the federal government of the United States
• both levels of government would exercise authority to the citizens' benefit
•  The federal government has certain express powers
• federal government and the state governments are co-equals

assignment 1

What are your views on the latest political ads on TV?  What candidate(s) do you like or dislike and why?
Political ads normally just bash their opponents.  But sometimes they do tell you what they want to change/do while they are in office.  So political ads can be helpful at times.  I do not really pay that much attention to the candidates, so I cant really say which ones I like or dislike.

What role do you feel that you will play in politics and government in the future?  What ways are you participating currently?
Right now I am not really playing a role in politics.  But in the future I will be able to vote.  Other than that I do not think that i will play a big role in politics, nor would I like to.