Powers
What are reserved powers?
Powers not granted to the National government, but at the same time, not denied to the States.
Examples:
making laws regarding the minimum age to marry
minimum age to purchase tobacco products
minimum drinking age
laws regarding the ban of prostitution and gambling
requirements for businesses to obtain a license to operate
establish public schools
the right to define criminal offenses and set punishments for violations.
This amendment protects freedom of speech, press, religion, assembly, and petition.
What is the 1st Amendment?
This branch makes (writes) the laws.
Answer: What is the legislative branch (Congress)?
This term describes a system where power is divided between state and national governments.
Answer: What is federalism?
This legislative body must propose amendments by a two‑thirds vote.
Answer: What is Congress?
Set forth in the Constitution. These are powers that are expressly not given to the National government and include the reserved powers that are not denied to the States.
create public schools
enact uniform marriage and divorce laws
conduct illegal searches and seizures
deny people the right to a trial by jury
prohibit freedom of religion and free speech.
This amendment protects against unreasonable searches and seizures.
Answer: What is the 4th Amendment
This branch carries out and enforces the laws.
Answer: What is the executive branch?
This level of government handles issues like national defense and currency.
Answer: What is the federal government?
This fraction of states must ratify an amendment.
Answer: What is three‑fourths of the states (38 out of 50)
Not given exclusively to the National government and at the same time are not denied to the States. These powers are shared.
Concurrent Powers
Examples:
levy and collect taxes
define crimes and punishments.
The rule that prevents illegaly obtained evidence from appearing in court, known as the Exclusionary Rule, applies to which Amendment?
Answer: What is the 4th Amendment
This branch interprets the laws and decides what they mean.
Answer: What is the judicial branch?
When state and federal laws conflict, this level of law prevails.
Answer: What is federal law?
This is the only amendment ever repealed—first by the 18th, then reversed by the 21st.
What is Prohibition?
Also called expressed powers, these are delegated to the national government and are expressed in the Constitution.
Enumerated Powers
collect taxes,
coin money,
regulate commerce,
maintain a national defense,
declare war,
fix standards of weight and measurement,
grant patents and copyrights.
The right to avoid self-incrimination—“pleading the fifth”—comes from this amendment.
Answer: What is the 5th Amendment?
This branch approves presidential appointments, such Supreme Court justices.
Answer: What is the Legislative?
This amendment says powers not given to the federal government belong to the states.
Answer: What is the 10th Amendment?
The process of proposing at the national level but ratifying at the state level shows this principle.
Answer: What is federalism?
Political powers granted to the United States government that are not explicitly stated in the Constitution but are deemed "necessary and proper" to execute the express, enumerated powers.
Implied Powers
This amendment gives you the right to a jury trial in civil cases.
Answer: What is the 7th Amendment?
This branch can declare laws unconstitutional.
Answer: What is the judicial branch?
This document is declared the “supreme law of the land.”
What is the U.S. Constitution?
This group, besides Congress, can ask for a national convention to propose amendments.
Answer: What are state legislatures