TRADING TOWARD FEDERALISM Learning Objectives: The students will 1. Identify powers of the three levels of government under federalism; 2. Compare and contrast the powers of local, state, and federal governments. TEKS: 5.16 C; 8.15 D; GOVT. 7 D; GOVT. 9 B & D Materials: Trading cards listing powers of the levels of government Vocabulary: Federalism, zoning laws, truancy, curfew, intrastate, interstate, treason, draft, diplomats Teaching Strategy: 1. Review vocabulary. 2. Hold a class discussion of What is Federalism? 3. Distribute ten cards to each student, which should include cards from each level of federalism. 4. Instruct students to separate their own cards into three groups: powers that belong to local governments; powers that belong to state governments; and powers that belong to federal governments. 5. By trading cards with other students, each student will create a complete set of ten cards depicting powers of only one level of government. When a student thinks he or she has a complete set, he or she should take the set to the teacher for confirmation. If the set is incorrect, the teacher should inform the student of the number of incorrect cards he or she has, but not which card(s) is incorrect. 6. Award prizes for the first three students to successfully complete their sets. 7. Suggested debriefing questions: Identify the powers that were missed and explain why that power was miscategorized. Which power(s) were most often miscategorized? Why? Extension for GT/AP: Analyze the following questions: Which powers do you feel are misplaced? Why? How would society be different if all regulations were placed in the power of the federal government?.. in the power of the local or state government? Compose an editorial expressing your views.
TRADING TOWARD FEDERALISM LOCAL Naming streets Setting leash laws for dogs Determining methods for selecting municipal judges Electing mayor Setting zoning laws School speed limits Setting scheduling for resurfacing streets Determining fire codes Distributing building permits Hearing complaints about a barking dog billboards on neighborhood streets Setting truancy regulations Setting garbage regulations Training for fire fighters Setting juvenile curfews Issuing parking tickets taxation (could be in all three categories) Summoning citizens for jury duty (could be in all three categories) STATE Selecting automobiles for the highway patrol Issuing drivers licenses Ratifying amendments to the federal Constitution Setting age limitations for the issuance of marriage licenses Setting regulations for required school attendance Issuing professional licenses Conducting federal elections Choosing the state flower, symbol, and bird Conducting the election of the justices of the Texas Supreme Court Setting ambulance regulations Setting curfews in state parks taxation (could be in all three categories) Setting minimum teacher salaries intrastate commerce fishing and hunting licenses Setting age for purchase and consumption of alcohol Summoning citizens for jury duty (could be in all three categories) Setting rates for insurance premiums FEDERAL taxation (could be in all three categories) interstate commerce Setting requirements for exports and imports Coining money Defining and punishing cases dealing with treason Paying for interstate highways Making treaties Making draft laws Maintaining the postal service Collecting income tax Declaring war Summoning citizens for jury duty (could be in all three categories) Setting automobile safety standards, such as air bags Appointing diplomats Establishing new federal trial courts in Texas Setting citizenship requirements
TABLE 1 Examples of How the Constitution Divides Powers TO NATIONAL TO STATE TO BOTH LEVELS GOVERNMENT GOVERNMENTS OF GOVERNMENT POWERS GRANTED To coin money To conduct foreign relations To regulate commerce with foreign nations & among states To provide an army and a navy To declare war To establish courts inferior to the Supreme Court To establish post offices To make law necessary and proper to carry out the foregoing To establish local governments To regulate commerce within a state To conduct elections To ratify amendments to the federal Constitution To take measures for public health, safety, & morals To exert powers the constitution does not delegate to the national government or prohibit the states from using To tax To borrow money To establish courts To make and enforce laws To charter banks and corporations To spend money for the general welfare To take private property for public purposes, with just compensation POWERS DENIED To tax articles exported from one state to another To violate the Bill of Rights To change state boundaries To tax imports or exports To coin money To enter into treaties To impair obligations of contracts To abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens (14th Amendment) To grant titles of nobility To permit slavery (13th Amendment) To deny citizens the right to vote because of race, color, or previous servitude (14th Amendment) To deny citizens the right to vote because of sex (19th Amendment) Table adapted from Robert L.Lineberry, Government in America (Boston: Little, Brown and Company, 1981), p. 93.
intrastate commerce Collecting income tax taxation Issuing professional licenses Selecting automobiles for the highway patrol Conducting the election of the justice of the Texas Supreme Court
Distributing building permits Setting minimum teacher salaries Issuing drivers licenses Determining methods for selecting municipal judges Naming streets Determining fire codes
Setting juvenile curfews Training for fire fighters Issuing parking tickets Setting regulations for required school attendance Electing major Setting leash laws for dogs
Paying for interstate highways Setting automobile safety standards, such as air bags Setting garbage regulations interstate commerce taxation Setting truancy regulations
Setting ambulance regulations billboards on neighborhood streets fishing and hunting licenses Setting rates for insurance premiums School speed limits Defining and punishing cases dealing with treason
Summoning citizens for jury duty taxation Choosing the state flower, symbol, and bird Summoning citizens for jury duty Summoning citizens for jury duty Setting age for purchase and consumption of alcohol
Declaring war Making draft laws Establishing new federal courts in Texas Setting citizenship requirements Setting age limitations for the issuance of marriage licenses Coining money
Conducting federal elections Ratifying amendments to the federal Constitution Maintaining the postal services Setting zoning laws Setting scheduling for resurfacing streets Making treaties
Hearing complaints about a barking dog Setting requirements for exports and imports intrastate commerce Appointing diplomats