The Conservative Cave
Current Events => General Discussion => Topic started by: JohnnyReb on May 04, 2009, 06:45:30 AM
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We've been thru the handbook, he has asked his Social Studies teacher and niether he, me nor her understand the question well enough to answer it. When he asked his Scout Master, he told him to find it on his own......so, here's the question we don't fully understand what they're looking for.....
"Outline the relationships between state and federal governments."
"Relationships", that word seems to come up a lot these days. When I was young, back in the darkages of the 50's, it seemed to only come up in plane geometry class or algebra class.
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I'd start with the 10th amendment. It gives rights to the states not specifically outlined in the constitution.
Continue through the Civil War, where the issue of seccession and states' rights were fought over
and on to the modern era, where the Supreme court has, for the most part, upheld states' rights. Maybe talk about how the federal govt. tries to get around states' rights issues by withholding funding for failure to comply; the federal drinking age and the speed limit ('70s) come to mind.
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Forgot to add, this is one of the many questions he needs to answer for his Citizenship in the Nation merit badge. I just can't get into my head or his exactly what they're looking for.
Thanks Splashdown, even if that ain't what they're looking for, it's worth covering anyway.
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I can't imagine they'd want something else for a citizenship badge. At least the answer would show some knowledge of the Constitution and American history.
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That's kinda tough, there are multi-semester college courses on the same subject. But the BSA is not looking for some kind of manifesto on the historical derivation of States rights vs. Federal supremacy vs. the Individual.
Keep it very simple and basic, something like: The Federal Government's powers are to conduct affairs of nationwide impact (like the Commerce Clause, the power to conduct international diplomacy to include national defense and treaties with foreign powers and entities, to guarantee individual rights set forth in the Constitution as amended, and to provide courts to resolve conflicts between the States or that cross State lines). The States make and enforce laws to govern what happens within their own territory (like their own criminal law for most types of crimes, business and commercial transaction laws, laws about how land is sold or how it can be used, and most fish-and-game law). Both of them have the power to impose taxes, to pay for the systems to enforce their laws or execute their powers. If there is an overlapping area and the two types of law come into conflict (Like, say, migratory game birds that fly over many States each and every year and so affect multiple States, but would also be subject to a particular State seasons and limits as game while in that State), then the Federal law trumps the State law.
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If there is an overlapping area and the two types of law come into conflict (Like, say, migratory game birds that fly over many States each and every year and so affect multiple States, but would also be subject to a particular State seasons and limits as game while in that State), then the Federal law trumps the State law.
DAT: You just pretty well answered question #6, which was, "What are five important funtions of your national government? Explain how these functions affect your family and local community."
State and federal game laws hadn't crossed my mind, that's beautiful. That should stir his interest some and be a good example at the same time......THANKS.