Can a state have it's own laws, etc.,? Thanks!
2007-10-01 23:47:26 · 6 answers · asked by DaveyMcB 3 in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
And is the old cliche still true that if you commit a crime in one state and make it to the state border with the next, you're home free?
2007-10-01 23:56:59 · update #1
Each state has it's own laws. And each city or county can create it's own "codes" too which are laws that aren't criminal.
The Federal government has gained more power during the last century and has created national laws which some people believe infringe on state's rights. They create Federal Mandates like the NO Child Left Behind act or the GFSZ act on top of what the states have created.
All states have extradition rights with each other, so crossing the state-line doesn't let anyone go free.
2007-10-02 00:26:47 · answer #1 · answered by mama woof 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The extent that they govern themselves is defined in the U.S. Constitution. Even so, the Federal Government can greatly influence a state to comply with things that are within the State's jurisdiction, such as the legal drinking age. All states have the age set at 21, not because they want it that way, but because the Federal Government wanted it that way. The Federal Government said that any state that does not have 21 as the minimum drinking age would loose their Federal highway funds.
As for making it to the other state line, don't try it. The other state will send you back and you will also be charged with evasion.
2007-10-02 00:08:36 · answer #2 · answered by Yo it's Me 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The US constitution lays out the powers of the federal government, and says any power not given to the federal govt is reserved for the states. The federal govt has the right to declare war, to control inter-state commerce, to sign treaties with other countries. Also, any law passed by the federal govt supercedes any law passed by a state. So, when the Federal govt said women have the right to vote, no state can deny women the right to vote.
But the federal govt can coerce states to perform certain acts. The federal govt in the 70s decided that the speed limit in all states should be 55 miles per hour. They could not force the states to make 55 miles per hour the speed limit... but they could say any state which had a higher speed limit would not receive any federal money for highway maintenance. So, all the states made 55 mph their speed limit.
2007-10-02 00:04:21 · answer #3 · answered by A Plague on your houses 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The US is a federal republic. The federal government has limited, enumerated powers. All powers not conveyed to the federal government are reserved to the states and/or the people.
Typical state powers include regulation of intrastate commerce, the professions (law, medicine, architecture, engineering, etc.), motor vehicle and financial responsibility laws, and the police power generally. The general consensus of political scientists studying the USA is that state law has ten times more impact on our day-to-day lives than federal law.
2007-10-02 01:56:48 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
They do have their own laws. They can do quite a bit to govern themselves. The federal laws take precedence over the state though. That is why it is important to limit the feds.
2007-10-01 23:55:14 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
States are governed by their own constitutions and by their respective local governments.
2007-10-01 23:52:28 · answer #6 · answered by FRAGINAL, JTM 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋