Chapter 4

In your blog:  Pick two areas from each of the three sections in Chapter 4.  Write a paragraph on those areas and what you have learned in regards to each area.  You should have six total paragraphs.

Section 1
The Exclusive and the Concurrent Powers: Exclusive powers are powers that are given to the National Government and can not be exercised by any states. These powers are seperated between the National and State Governments to reduce chaos between the United States. Powers that both the National and State Governments can exercise are called Concurrent Powers. The Constitution does not grant these powers to the National Government but it also doesn't deny them to the States. These Concurrent powers make it possible for the federal system of government to function.
The Supreme Law of the Land: The Framers anticipated conflicts so they wrote the Supremacy Clause into the Constitution. The Supremacy Clause has also been called the "linchpin of the Constitution" because it connects the National Government and the States into one unit which is called the Federal Government.

Section 2
Admitting New States: Congress is the only system who has the power to admit new States. Although States can be created, a new state can not be created by taking the territory from any existing States without the concent of the legislature of the State involved. Each State enters the Union on an equal footing with each of the States and has to have certain conditions to become a State.
Cooperative Federalism: The American Government system is like a game of tug-and-war between the National Government and the States. In revenue sharing, Congress gives an annual share of the huge federal tax revenue to the States. The Government also has some grants it gives away. Categorical grants are made for school lunches, construction of airports, or wastewater treatment plants. Block grants are for health care, social services, or welfare. Project grants are grants made to the States.

Section 3
Full Faith and Credit: The full faith and credit talks about if a person has a debt to pay to one State, they cant go to another State and have that debt to go away. They must pay off the debt completely. Mainly what happens in one of the States is still on your record in another State.
Privileges and Immunities: This means that no State can draw unreasonable distinctions between its own residents and the people who happen to live in the State. Every State has to consider people travel from State to State in the United States. This agreement allows people to buy a house or get married in any State they want to. However on some occassions, the person might have to live in that State for a while before they can hold public office or practice law and medicine.

1.  What does Federalism mean by definition and what does Federalism mean to you?
Federalism is a system of government in which a written constitution divides the powers of government on a territorial basis between a central, or national, government and several regional governments, usually called states or provinces.
Federalism to me is just the division of powers.

2.  List and describe the three powers of the National Government.
The Expressed Powers- delegated to the National Government in so many words- spelled out in the Constitution. These powers are also called "enumerated powers."
The Implied Powers- are not stated in the Constitution but are reasonably implied by the expressed powers.
The Inherent Powers- are powers that national governments have historically possessed.

3.  Explain the division of powers and why it is important?
Powers are divided between national, concurrent powers, and state powers. The division of powers is important because then one power doesn't have to deal with so many things.

4.  What is the Supremacy Clause and what is its function?
The Supremacy Clause is a clause that asserts and establishes the Constitution, the federal laws made in pursuance of the Constitution, and treaties made by the United States with foreign nations as "the Supreme Law of the Land." This clause functions by joining the National Government and the States into a single governmental unit, a federal government. It holds together the complex structure that is the American federal system.

5.  Find a site on the Internet that deals with Federalism.  Take 10 minutes and review that site.  Provide the link and provide some of the useful information that you found to help you better understand what Federalism is and how it works.
Dual federalism holds that the federal government and state governments are co-equal. The Supremacy Clause and the 10th amendment come from the constitution and the federal government has jurisdiction only if the Constitution clearly grants such. In cooperative federalism says that the national government is above all over the states. Cooperative federalism is the most used today with the nation over powering the states.
http://www.usconstitution.net/consttop_fedr.html

Assignment 1

What are your views on the latest political ads on TV?  What candidate(s) do you like or dislike and why?
I think some of the ads on tv are annoying because they spend more time telling what the other person does not do instead of what they want to do. One candidate that i dislike Kristi Noem. In her adds she says all the bad things and why we shouldn't vote for Stephanie Herseth Sandlin. While Stephanie is a candidate that I like because she tells how much hard work she put into running South Dakota and doesn't have anything bad to say about the other candidates.

What role do you feel that you will play in politics and government in the future?  What ways are you participating currently?

One role that I can play in politics in the future is by being a leader and setting a structured example for the people around me. By doing this it will hopefully make them want to do the same and do some good. And I do currently think that I am setting a good example on how people should act.