Federal Government, State Government, Local Government or Citizens
Whose job or power is it?
The U.S. Constitution divides up the powers or jobs of the Federal government, State government and the People.
This is important because it protects the people's rights. This division of powers is meant to limit the government's power
over the people. between competing or conflicting ideas about how to govern.
Bill of Rights - Amendment X
The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states,
are reserved to the states respectively, or to the people.
| enforcing laws | establishing post offices | raising armies |
| making laws | eminent domain | leveling taxes |
| regulating businesses | print money | education of children |
| conducting elections | regulate/provide health care | control travel of people |
| issue debt | Grant titles of nobility | protect natural resources |
| safeguard food & products | make treaties with other countries | regulate marriage |
| protect citizen rights | conduct census | subsidize business |
| regulate information sources like news, Internet or media | housing and renting | |
| build & maintain infrastructure: highways, bridges, sewers, water supplies, communication systems | ||
Sort the jobs/powers:
1. Open a word processing document
2. Make a header. Enter a title, your name, Insert the date
3. Make 4 columns
4. Label the first column - federal, the 2nd - State or Commonwealth, 3rd column - local government, 4th column - citizens
5. Place each power or job in the appropriate column. Add any powers you can identify that are missed above.
Draw some conclusions:
Who has the greatest amount of power?
Who has the least amount of power?
"I consider the difference between a system founded on the legislatures only, and one founded on the people,
to be the true difference between a league or treaty and a constitution." James Madison, at the Constitutional Convention, 1787
| Constitution Activity | Bill Of Rights | Civics Essays | Constitution Projects | |
Internet Hunts / Nature / Computers / Pennsylvania Projects / Puzzles & Projects / Site map / Home
posted 8/2007 by Cynthia J. O'Hora, released to public domain