States Rights Mr. Flannery

8th gradeSocial Studies Agenda

Name: Date:

Period:

Do Now:  Do you think different states should be able to have different rules? Why? Explain in 2-3 sentences.

Objective: Students will be able to analyze different state and federal powers through answering guided questions.

Activity 1: Answer the discussion questions below:

1. Should all people be treated equally? Why?

2. Are people actually treated equally? Explain.

3. Are some people more important? Why

Activity 2: Read the article and answer the questions below:

States Have Power If you’ve ever been to a wedding, you probably heard the officiant wrap things up by saying, “By the power vested in me by the State of ___________, I now pronounce…” The person performing the wedding got the power to perform weddings from the state. But where did the state get the power to give that power? 

If you look up “state” in the dictionary, one of the definitions will sound a lot like the definition for “country.” That’s because state is another word for country or nation. A state is a political unit that has the authority to govern itself. The United States is a group of states that decided to unite themselves under a single government. When states do that, they are not considered countries. And yet… they have their own governments. And they have their own power. The Constitution treats states partly as if they were independent countries and partly as small units within one big country. It lets states have power to do a lot of things, but it gives some powers only to the federal government.

The Constitution gives a specific list of powers to the federal government. But even if you read the entire Constitution, you won’t find a list of powers for states. Instead, the Constitution says this: Delegated means assigned or given. Reserved means set aside for. So under the Constitution, if a power isn’t specifically given to the federal government, it’s a power set aside for the states—unless the Constitution says it’s something states aren’t allowed to do. There are no reserved powers for the federal government. It only has the powers the Constitution says it has.

So what can’t states do? You might want a cool title, like Sir Brandon or Princess Kaitlyn, but you won’t be getting one from your state government—it’s not allowed. Granting titles of nobility is one of many things the Constitution says states can’t do. (It’s also something the federal government can’t do.) Other no-no’s include things that would interfere with the federal government’s ability to exercise its own powers. These are things like making treaties with other countries or starting a war. The Constitution also says “no” to states causing problems for other states. For example, a state can’t charge taxes on goods brought in from other states.

1. What is state another word for?

2. The United States is a group of what?

3. How does the Constitution treat states?

4. What does delegated mean?

5. What does reserved mean?

6. If a power isn’t specifically given to the federal government who is given the power?

7. What are three things the Constitution says states cannot do?

Activity 3. Create your own country. Include

A list of 5 rules

Description of who will lead the country (a king, an elected President, a dictator)

How your country will make money

What are three rights for your citizens

A symbol for your country (like the bald eagle for America)