Lecture 3-1

Powers of the National Government

• Expressed

• Implied

• Inherent

• Concurrent (shared with the states)

Examples of Expressed Powers Article I Sec 8 Cls 1-17

• Tax and spend to “promote the general welfare”

• Regulate INTERstate commerce

• Postal System

• Monetary Policy

• Foreign Policy

• Defense Policy

McCulloch v. Maryland

• Elastic Clause

• Supremacy Clause

A Comparative Perspective on Federalism

• Federalism is not unique to the United States

• Relative powers of constituent groups in federal systems will vary among nations

• Larger/diverse national typically use federalism (“diversity in unity”)

• Small homogeneous nations use a unitary system

States in the Constitutional System

• States play a crucial role in the American political system

• Electoral college

• Election of all other officials

• Amendment of the Constitution

Relationships Between the States

• Full Faith and Credit

• Extradition

• Reciprocity

• Privileges and Immunities

• Interstate Compacts

Express and Implied powers

• Express powers in the Constitution comprise those specifically enumerated as belonging to Congress