Chapter 4 Section 1

National Government Powers

Expressed – those powers directly expressed or stated in the constitution.

Implied – those powers that the national government requires to carry out the powers that are expressly defined in the constitution. They rely on expressed powers in order to exist.

Inherent – those that the national government may exercise simply because it is a government.

State Powers – the constitution reserves certain powers for the states, called reserved powers. The constitution does not directly state these powers.

The Supremacy Clause – no state law or state constitution may conflict with any form of national law.

Concurrent Power of National and State Governments – powers that both the national government and the states have.

Powers denied by the Constitution – the constitution specifically denies some powers, such as taxing export and cannot interfere with the ability of states to carry out their responsibilities

Obligations to the states

- the national government must guarantee each state a republican form of government

- the national government must protect states from invasion and domestic violence.

-the national government has the duty to respect the territorial integrity of each state. The national government cannot use territory that is part of an existing state to create a new state.

Obligations of the States

            -state and local government conduct and pay for elections of all national government officials, senators, representatives, and presidential electors.

            -the states play a key role in the amendment process: no amendment can be added to the constitution unless ¾ of the states approve it.

How the Supreme Court acts as Umpire between the National and State Governments

            -in a conflict between the national government and the state government, the national government is supreme.