How does the Constitution divide power between the national government and the states?
Explain federalism and the division of powers among the national, state, and local governments, including enumerated, reserved, and concurrent powers, using Louisiana examples (LA Civics, Structure and Powers of Government strand).
A Louisiana Civics answer on federalism: how the Constitution divides power into enumerated (national), reserved (state), and concurrent (shared) powers, the role of the Tenth Amendment, and how the levels apply in Louisiana, with worked LEAP Civics style questions.
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What this topic is asking
This standard asks you to explain federalism, the way the Constitution divides power between the national government and the states, and to sort powers into the right category. Because this is a Louisiana course, expect to apply the idea to Louisiana, where the state runs schools and elections while Washington handles the military and the currency. On the LEAP Civics test, a common task is a chart or scenario asking which level holds a power, or which category a power belongs to.
Federalism in one idea
The Founders chose federalism as a middle path. A single all-powerful national government risked becoming a new tyranny, while the loose confederation under the Articles had been too weak. Federalism keeps a strong national government but reserves real power to the states.
The three categories of power
The test focuses on sorting powers, so learn the three categories with clear examples.
The Tenth Amendment and the states
The Tenth Amendment is the key to reserved powers. It says that any power the Constitution does not give to the national government, and does not forbid to the states, is reserved to the states or to the people. That is why so much of daily life (schools, local roads, police, marriage and driver's licenses) is handled at the state and local level, including across Louisiana.
The levels in Louisiana
Federalism is easiest to see by following one issue across the levels. Take roads: the national government funds interstate highways, the state of Louisiana maintains state highways, and a parish or city maintains local streets. Or take schools: the state sets standards and the local parish school board runs the schools, while the national government plays a smaller, supporting role. Knowing the Louisiana counterpart for each national power is exactly the kind of comparison this course expects (see Louisiana state government and Louisiana local government and parishes).
Try this
Q1. Define enumerated, reserved, and concurrent powers with one example each. [3]
- Cue. Enumerated (national only): coin money. Reserved (states only): run public schools. Concurrent (both): collect taxes.
Q2. Which amendment is the source of the states' reserved powers, and what does it say? [2]
- Cue. The Tenth Amendment; it reserves to the states (or the people) any power not given to the national government.
Exam-style practice questions
Practice questions written in the style of LDOE exam questions on this dot point, with worked answer explainers. The year tag is the paper they imitate, not the source.
LA Civics (style)1 marksCoining money, declaring war, and regulating trade with other countries are powers held only by the national government. These are BEST described asShow worked answer →
A single-select item assessing categories of power under federalism (Structure and Powers of Government).
Correct answer: enumerated (delegated) powers.
Credit is given for identifying powers held only by the national government as enumerated or delegated powers, which are listed in the Constitution. A distractor of "reserved powers" is wrong, because reserved powers belong only to the states, the opposite of what the question describes.
LA Civics (style)2 marksUsing the source, explain the difference between reserved powers and concurrent powers, and give one Louisiana example of each.Show worked answer →
A short constructed-response item assessing two categories with evidence (content plus the 9-12.SP1 skills dimension).
A complete answer defines both and gives Louisiana examples. Sample: "Reserved powers belong only to the states and come from the Tenth Amendment; in Louisiana, running public schools and issuing driver's licenses are reserved powers. Concurrent powers are shared by the national and state governments; in Louisiana, both the state and the national government can collect taxes and build roads. The difference is that reserved powers belong to the state alone, while concurrent powers are exercised by both levels." Credit is given for correct definitions and one valid example of each.
Related dot points
- Explain how the Constitution limits government through separation of powers and checks and balances, and give examples of how each branch checks the others (LA Civics, Structure and Powers of Government strand).
A Louisiana Civics answer on separation of powers and checks and balances: how the Constitution divides power among three branches and lets each check the others (veto, override, judicial review, confirmation, impeachment), with worked LEAP Civics style questions.
- Explain the Supremacy Clause and the principle of the rule of law, including how federal law prevails over conflicting state law and why no person or official is above the law (LA Civics, Structure and Powers of Government strand).
A Louisiana Civics answer on the Supremacy Clause and the rule of law: how Article VI makes the Constitution and federal law supreme over conflicting state law, what the rule of law means, and why no one, including officials, is above the law, with worked LEAP Civics style questions.
- Identify and explain the core principles of American government, including popular sovereignty, limited government, separation of powers, checks and balances, federalism, republicanism, and individual rights (LA Civics, Foundations of American Government strand).
A Louisiana Civics answer on the core principles of American government: popular sovereignty, limited government, separation of powers, checks and balances, federalism, republicanism, and individual rights, with worked LEAP Civics style questions.
- Describe the structure of Louisiana state government, including the bicameral Legislature, the governor and separately elected statewide officials, and the state court system, and compare it with the federal government (LA Civics, Structure and Powers of Government strand).
A Louisiana Civics answer on Louisiana state government: the bicameral Legislature, the governor and the separately elected statewide officials (lieutenant governor, attorney general, and others), the Louisiana Supreme Court, and how the state mirrors and differs from the federal government, with worked LEAP Civics style questions.
- Describe local government in Louisiana, including parishes (rather than counties), police juries and parish presidents, home rule charters, municipalities, and school boards, and the services they provide (LA Civics, Structure and Powers of Government strand).
A Louisiana Civics answer on local government in Louisiana: parishes instead of counties, police juries and parish presidents, home rule charters, municipalities, and school boards, and the local services they provide, with worked LEAP Civics style questions.
Sources & how we know this
- K-12 Louisiana Student Standards for Social Studies — Louisiana Department of Education (2022)
- The Constitution of the United States (Transcript) — US National Archives (1787)