Unit_14_-_A_Federalism.ppt
- 1. Unit 15 The Nature and Sources of American Federalism
- 2. Federalism as a concept The term federalism describes a system of the government in which sovereignty is constitutionally divided between: - a central governing authority and - constituent political units (like states or provinces). The power to govern is shared between the national and state governments, creating what is often called a federation.
- 3. Federal systems in Europe Several Federal systems exist in Europe, such as in - Switzerland, - Austria, - Germany and Belgium Die Bundesrepublik Deutschland
- 4. Read the text on federalism and make notes /think of key words – PART I Federalism is a basic structural feature of the American political system that has generated a great deal of conflict throughout American political history. Federalism involves multiple layers of government with shared powers amongst them and powers unique to each of the levels of the government.
- 5. Read the text on federalism and make notes /think of key words – PART II The three basic levels of American federalism are the national or federal government, the states, and the local governments (counties, cities, townships). Whereas most political systems of the world are unitary systems (one central government with local administrative branches taking direction from it), the American system is a system of divided government. This reflects the desire for limited government of the Founders. Consult also the following source of the US Governement: http://usgovinfo.about.com/od/rightsandfreedoms/a/federalism.htm
- 6. Complete the following statements. 1. Federalism is based on multiple _________ and on the ___________ between states and nation. 2. American federalism can be divided into three different _________. These are_________, __________ and ____________. 3. The basic structure of unitary political systems is _____________________. 4. The American system can be described as a system of ____________________.
- 7. KEY: the statements federalism 1. Federalism is based on multiple layers of government and on the shared powers between states and nation. 2. American federalism can be divided into three different levels. These are national or federal government, the states, and the local governments. 3. The basic structure of unitary political systems is one central government with local administrative branches. 4. The American system can be described as a system of divided government.
- 8. Sources of American federalism 1.The tenth amendment of the Constitution 1.The fourteenth amendment 1.The grant of unique powers of various levels of government under the Constitution. 4. Numerous Supreme Court decisions (e.g., McCulloch v. Maryland in 1819, financial powers of central and state banks).
- 9. The importance of the Tenth Amendment of the Constitution of the USA The Tenth Amendment of 1791 The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.
- 10. POWER* - collocations 1. the exercise of power by... 2. the division of power between... 3. the allocation of powers... / to allocate power to... 4. the power to do something... 5. to delegate powers to somebody 6. to give powers to somebody *power = ovlast a) Translate into Croatian. b) Write sentence examples with those collocations.
- 11. Allocation of powers* on three levels… 1. Exclusively national/federal powers 2. Exclusively state powers 3. Concurrent powers
- 12. Allocation of powers - national level… - To make treaties / enter into international agreements - To decide about declaring war / peace - To run a uniform monetary system (to coin money) - To establish an army and navy - To regulate commerce between states and international trade - To establish post offices and issue postage - To make laws necessary to enforce the Constitution
- 13. Allocation of powers - state level… - In accordance with the 10th Amendment – → all powers not delegated to the federal level Establish local governments Issue licences (driver, hunting, marriage, etc.) Regulate intrastate (within the state) commerce Conduct elections Ratify amendments to the U.S. Constitution Provide for public health and safety Exercise powers neither delegated to the national government or prohibited from the states by the U.S.Constitution (For example, setting legal drinking and smoking ages.)
- 14. Allocation of powers – concurrent powers… Setting up courts Creating and collecting taxes Building highways Borrowing money Making and enforcing laws Chartering banks and corporations Spending money for the betterment of the general welfare Taking (condemning) private property with just compensation Related
- 15. The Virginia Plan (May, 1787) (proposed by Virginia delegates) James Madison (1751 - 1836) drafted a proposal while he was waiting for a quorum to assemble at the Constitutional Convention (also called Philadelphia Convention). The proposal - a conception of a strong national government. → The so-called Virginia plan - introduced on May 29 1787 by Madison’s colleague Edmund Randolph (also known as Randolph Plan).
- 16. The plan provided for a two-house legislature with proportional representation in both houses, an executive elected by congress, a national judiciary, and congressional veto over state laws. It gave Congress the broad power to legislate "in all cases to which the separate states are incompetent". Had the Virginia plan been adopted intact, it would have created a government in which national authority remained unchallenged and state power was greatly diminished
- 17. The New Jersey plan (June, 1787) The New Jersey Plan (also known as the Small State Plan or Paterson Plan) - a proposal for the structure of the US Government proposed by W. Paterson at the Philadelphia Convention on June 15, 1787. created in response to the Virginia Plan (two houses of Congress, both elected with proportional representation) The less populous states were opposed to giving most of the control of the national government to the larger states proposed an alternate plan that would have given one vote per state for equal representation under one legislative body. This was a compromise for the issue of the houses.
- 18. The convention placed primary responsibility for the conduct of foreign affairs in the hands of the president, who was also designated commander-in-chief of the armed forces. The final document of the Constitution still showed signs of its origins in the Virginia plan, but compromises had created a system of government less powerful at the national level than Madison and Randolph had envisioned.
- 19. Read the text, p. 65 and answer the following questions. 1. What was the main question that the authors of the US Constitution were discussing about when working on it? 2. What kind of government was foreseen by the Virginia plan? 3. What has always been the problem of small states? 4. What was a good solution according to the supporters of the New Jersey Plan? 5. What was the result of the work of the Constitutional Convention? 6. Explain the importance of the term “federalism” in the US Constitution.
- 20. Questions – PART II 7. What were the causes of the American civil war? 8. Which definition of American federalism is given in the book? 9. What was one of the main concerns of the Constitutional Convention? 10. Describe the pattern of allocation of powers. Which three forms of power can be distinguished? 11. Which are the examples of national or federal power? 12. How are state powers defined? 13. What is meant by concurrent powers? 14. Give examples for concurrent powers?