Unit 7 · Slides 29–31
⚡ Types of Powers
Some powers belong only to the federal government, some only to states, and some are shared.
Quick Summary
Federalism splits government power between the national (federal) government and the 50 state governments. The Constitution divides powers into three buckets: Expressed (federal only), Reserved (state only), and Concurrent (shared by both).
Memory Trick
- •Expressed = EXPLICITLY listed in the Constitution for the federal government.
- •Reserved = held back ('reserved') for the states by the 10th Amendment.
- •Concurrent = happens at the same time ('concurrently') at BOTH levels.
Supremacy Clause
Article VI says the Constitution and federal laws are the 'supreme Law of the Land.' When a state law conflicts with a valid federal law, the federal law wins. This keeps the country united under one Constitution.
Key Facts
| Expressed | Reserved | Concurrent | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Also Called | Enumerated / Delegated | States' Rights | Shared |
| Who Has Them | Federal ONLY | States ONLY | BOTH levels |
| Where Found | Article I, Section 8 | 10th Amendment | Throughout |
| Examples | Declare war, print money, regulate interstate commerce, post offices, army | Driver's licenses, elections, schools, marriage laws | Collect taxes, build roads, courts, borrow money |
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Review Game
Scenario Identification
Question 1 of 9Score: 0
Scenario
Printing paper money