Which statement describes what makes the federal government different from a state government in the United States?(1 point)
To determine what makes the federal government different from a state government in the United States, we can analyze their respective structures and powers. First, let's explore the division of powers between the federal and state governments:
1. The federal government is responsible for handling matters that affect the entire nation, such as defense, foreign policy, and immigration. State governments, on the other hand, deal with issues that affect individual states, such as education, public health, and transportation.
2. The federal government has specific powers outlined in the United States Constitution, known as delegated powers. These powers include coining money, regulating interstate commerce, and declaring war. State governments have the reserved powers, which allow them to legislate on matters not assigned to the federal government.
3. In the federal government, power is distributed among three branches: the executive (President and administration), legislative (Congress), and judicial (Supreme Court and federal courts). Each branch has different functions and acts as a system of checks and balances. In contrast, state governments have similar structures, with an executive branch led by a governor, a legislative branch composed of state legislators, and a judicial branch comprising state courts.
4. Federal laws supersede state laws when there is a conflict, as stated in the Supremacy Clause of the United States Constitution. This means that if a federal law and a state law contradict each other, the federal law will prevail. However, states maintain the ability to create and enforce their own laws, as long as they do not conflict with federal law.
In summary, the key distinctions between the federal and state governments in the United States lie in their spheres of influence (national vs. state-level issues), their powers (delegated vs. reserved), their structures (three branches vs. similar structures), and the hierarchy of laws (supremacy of federal laws).