Question

You have a friend who lives in China. They have heard that some states in the United States have different laws, such as whether people can smoke in restaurants and what the minimum wage is. They wonder why the national government doesn’t just tell everyone what to do. Write a letter to your friend explaining how the federalist system works and what the Tenth Amendment says.

In the first paragraph of your letter explain the federalist system, including expressed, reserved, and concurrent powers.

In the second paragraph explain how the Tenth Amendment and the federalist system limit the power of government in the United States.

Answer 1

The U.S. federalist system divides powers among national and state governments with expressed, reserved, and concurrent powers. The Tenth Amendment limits the national government by reserving undelegated powers to the states or the people, ensuring a balance and preventing central dominance.

Step-by-step explanation:

Dear Friend,

In the United States, the federalist system of government divides powers between the national government and the state governments. Under this system, expressed powers are those given specifically to the national government, such as coining money or regulating interstate commerce; reserved powers are held by the states, covering things like education and local law enforcement; and concurrent powers are shared by both levels, such as taxing and building roads.

The Tenth Amendment serves as a constitutional boundary that limits the national government by stating any powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, belong to the States or to the people. This federalist structure ensures a balance of power, preventing any one governmental branch from becoming too dominant and preserving the sovereignty of the states within the union.