2007-01-06 18:55:59 · 6 answers · asked by Future 5 in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
it is just one of the ways that our country is designed to keep power from becoming too concetrated.
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National Government can:
* Print money
* Regulate interstate (between states) and international trade
* Make treaties and conduct foreign policy
* Declare war
* Provide an army and navy
* Establish post offices
* Make laws necessary and proper to carry out the these powers
State Government can:
* Issue licenses
* Regulate intrastate (within the state) businesses
* Conduct elections
* Establish local governments
* Ratify amendments to the Constitution
* Take measures for public health and safety
* May exert powers the Constitution does not delegate to the national government or prohibit the states from using
In addition to their exclusive powers, both the national government and state governments share the power of being able to:
Collect taxes
Build roads
Borrow money
Establish courts
Make and enforce laws
Charter banks and corporations
Spend money for the general welfare
Take private property for public purposes, with just compensation
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2007-01-06 19:10:10 · answer #1 · answered by Petitiongirl 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Federalism. It is a system that allows for the Federal Government and the States to work together, without making the Federal Government have all the power.
If you want to learn more, look it up.
2007-01-06 19:04:39 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
A couple of nice answers have already been posted (especially by The Mammoth and Petitongirl). I might also suggest taking a look at the book "Democracy in America" by Alexis de Tocqueville written in the mid-1830's. He describes our system of government and how it came about (and why).
Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democracy_in_America
Link (possibly the text): http://xroads.virginia.edu/~HYPER/DETOC/
Other websites exist too on Tocqueville's landmark work.
2007-01-06 19:15:34 · answer #3 · answered by Galt_007 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Any laws that aren't dictated by the Constitution are left up to each individual state.
2007-01-06 19:05:28 · answer #4 · answered by Pens 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
b/c each state has the right to govern itself, as long as it doesnt directly violate federal (america) law.
2007-01-06 18:59:03 · answer #5 · answered by jezabella 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
because they all hold independence in this field
2007-01-06 19:13:40 · answer #6 · answered by echo 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋