Question

The U.S. Constitution provided that both the national and state governments were prohibited from taking certain actions. Name one example that the federal government was prohibited from taking, and name one example that state governments were prohibited from taking.

a) Federal: Taxation
State: Conducting foreign affairs
b) Federal: Establishing a religion
State: Coining money
c) Federal: Freedom of speech
State: Conducting elections
d) Federal: Public education
State: Regulating commerce

Answer 1

The federal government is prohibited from taxing exports between states or granting titles of nobility, while state governments cannot coin money or conduct foreign diplomacy. These restrictions maintain a balance of power between the two levels of government and preserve national unity.

Step-by-step explanation:

The U.S. Constitution includes provisions that restrict the actions of both the federal and state governments. Regarding the actions the federal government is prohibited from taking, Article I, Section 9 specifically outlines that the national government cannot tax exports between states, pass laws that favor one state over another, or grant titles of nobility. When it comes to state governments, Article I, Section 10 prohibits them from conducting actions such as coining money, taxing imports and exports from other states, and engaging in independent foreign diplomacy or entering treaties with other nations.

This design ensures a balance between the powers of the federal government and the states, fostering national unity while respecting the sovereignty of the states within their respective jurisdictions. Furthermore, while both levels of government are barred from passing ex post facto laws or granting titles of nobility, each level has exclusive and shared powers. For example, both federal and state governments can levy taxes, but only the federal government can negotiate treaties and only state governments have the power to regulate intrastate commerce.