Constitutional Principles
This concept divides the national government into three branches (Legislative, Executive, and Judicial) to keep any single branch from gaining too much power.
What is Separation of Powers?
Declaring war, coining money, and regulating interstate trade are examples of powers given specifically to this level of government.
What is the Federal (National) Government?
As a resident of Saratoga County, you follow traffic laws set by New York State, but you pay Federal income tax to this national agency.
What is the IRS (Internal Revenue Service)?
This type of tax is placed on everyday goods you buy in stores and helps fund both state and county operations.
What is Sales Tax?
Zoning laws and land-use decisions made by local planning boards determine how this resource in a town can be used.
What is Land (or Property)?
This system allows each branch of government to limit or monitor the actions of the other branches (e.g., a presidential veto or judicial review).
What are Checks and Balances?
Issuing driver's licenses, regulating intrastate business, and running public schools are examples of powers reserved for this level of government.
What is the State Government?
While the national government sets federal minimum wage standards, New York State can set a higher wage for workers in Saratoga County due to this system of government.
What is Federalism?
Local public schools in New York depend heavily on revenue generated from this tax on homes and land.
What is Property Tax?
Economic development projects can benefit a town by creating jobs, but they may also hurt the community by increasing this concern for drivers.
What is Traffic
This principle divides power between a national (federal) government and individual state governments.
What is Federalism?
Under the Constitution, powers not delegated to the federal government, nor prohibited to the states, are reserved to the states under this Amendment.
What is the 10th Amendment?
Name ONE way state government decisions directly impact your daily life as a student in Saratoga County.
What is school graduation requirements, driver's licensing laws, state sales tax, or state road maintenance?
This tax is deducted directly from an individual's paycheck to fund services provided by the state and federal governments.
What is Income Tax?
When creating its annual budget, the Ballston Spa Central School District must account for funding state-mandated programs and this major spending item for staff.
What are Teacher/Staff Salaries and Benefits?
A primary reason the Framers included Separation of Powers, Checks and Balances, and Federalism in the Constitution was to prevent this type of cruel and oppressive rule.
What is Tyranny (or an Oppressive Government)?
Powers shared by both the federal and state governments—such as the power to levy taxes and establish courts—are known by this term.
What are Concurrent Powers?
This county-level body of government manages local services like Saratoga County roads, public health, and local law enforcement
What is County Government?
Name TWO specific government services funded by local property taxes in your community.
What are public schools, local police/fire departments, public libraries, or town road maintenance?
Name ONE potential positive effect and ONE potential negative effect that a large commercial economic development project could bring to Ballston Spa.
Positive: What is more tax revenue, new jobs, or economic growth?
Negative: What is increased traffic, strain on infrastructure, pollution, or loss of small-town character?
If Congress passes a law, the President can use this check to block it, but Congress can override it with a 2/3 vote.
What is a Veto?
Name TWO specific powers that belong exclusively to the Federal Government.
What are declaring war, coining money, printing currency, negotiating foreign treaties, or regulating foreign/interstate commerce?
Explain how a resident in Saratoga County interacts with BOTH state and federal jurisdiction when driving on Interstate 87 (the Northway).
What is the road was built/funded with federal interstate standards/grants, but patrolled/maintained by New York State
This federal tax, deducted from paychecks alongside income tax, specifically funds healthcare for seniors and retirement benefits.
What are Social Security and Medicare taxes
In New York State, local voters participate directly in government every May by voting on this specific local financial proposal.
What is the School District Budget?