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Articles of Confederation
A written document that tried to establish a government for the U.S. It created a weak central government and prevented the states from conducting thier own foreign diplomacy.The federal government having power over the states makes this federal based. -
Constitutional Convention
The convention was addressing the problems of governeing the U.S. Delegates that were at the convention rewrote the Articles of Confederation and wrote the Constitution. The convetnion voted on Madison's Virginia Plan which gave the power of the confederation to the federal government and eve some state powers were given to the federal government. -
Elastic Clause or Necessary and Proper Clause
A statement in the U.S. Constitution that grants Congress the power to pass all laws necessary and proper for carrying out the enumerated list of powers. This is a federal law because becuase the laws are made for the whole country. -
10th Amendment
Amendment stating that powers not delegated to the United States are reserved to the states. This makes this law a state law. -
Supremacy Clause
A provision of Article 6 of the Constitution that establishes the U.S. Constitution, federal statutes, as the supreme law of the land. This states that the government favors with federal laws over state laws. -
McCulloch v. Maryland
The court cased argued whether the state of Maryland could tax a bank. The court decided that Maryland could not tax instruments of the national government. This is a state struggle. -
Gibbons v. Ogden
The court found that New York's licsensing requirement for out-of-state operators was inconsistant with a congressional act regulating the coasting trade. Decided that Congress needs to have the power of interstate commerce. -
Dred Scott v. Sandford
Dred Scott was a slave in Missouri and became a free man after he went to Illinios. Scott sued Missouri for treating him like he was still a slave. The court decided that he was still a slave because no one but a U.S. citizen could be a citizen of a state. The court later found the Missouri Compromise unconstitutional and hoping to end slvery once and for all. Slavery is a federal issue that was apparent in the U.S. -
Civil War
A war fought mainly over power in the federal government and slavery. The states proved that they could rule on their own and did not need a federal government. -
Plessy v. Ferguson
Homer Adolf-Plessy sat in a "whites only" car instead of a blacks car. The court decided to rule in favor with the state and continue with the Seperate-but-equal, making the blacks and whites seperate but equal. -
Pure Food and Drug Act
An act that prevents the manufacture, sale, and transportation of adultered, misbranded, or poisonous food, drugs, medicines, liquours. This federal law's main objective was to ban foreign and interstate trafficing for the safety of the public. -
16th Amendment
Allows for the federal government to collect an income tax form all Americans. This amendment is a federal amendment and by allowing a tax collect the federal government is able to have a army and money flowing throughout the country. -
The New Deal
The New Deal is a series of domestic programs enacted in the Untied States. It included laws passed by Congress and presidential executive orders during FDR's first term. The laws in the New Deal are federal laws. -
Brown v. Board of Education
Black children were denied admission to public schools because of their race. Court decided on "Seperate but Equal" for all schools. This is a state law. -
Economic Opportunity Act of 1964
This act authorized the formation of local Community Action Agencies as part of the War on Poverty. These agencies are directly regulated by the federal government, which makes it a federal law. -
Heart of Atlanta Motel v. U.S.
The Heart of Atlanta Motel refused to accept black Americans and was charged with violating Title II. the court concluded that publlic accomodations had no "right" to select guest as see fit, free from governmental regulation. Being free from government regulation makes it a state law. -
Roe v. Wade
A woman was preganant and wanted to terminate the pregnantcy. The question is whether the Constitution embraces a woman's right to have the decision to erminate a pregnancy or not. The Constitution stated that a woman's right falls under the right to privacy. Laws in 46 states were changed, which makes this a federal law. -
State and Local Fiscal assistance Act
This act provided state and local governments with a total of aproximately 30.2 billion dollars in revenue sharing funds over a five-year period. Because the federal government gives money to the state and local government, that makes this a law based on the state. -
Election of Ronald Reagan
Reagan was a republican and said that the government was the problem and reformed the government to make it less federal based. -
Americans with Disabilities Act
A civil rights law that prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities. Because this law relates to the public, that makes it a federal law. -
Planned Parenthood v. Casey
Anyone in Pennsylvania who wants an abortion must include informed consent and a 24 hour waiting period. The question was whether a state can force a woman who wants an abortion to go through all the steps required. The court agreed with all but one, the husband notification requirement. This is only the case in Pennsylvania which makes it a state law, not federal. -
United States v. Lopez
Lopez carried a gun to school and was found guilty by the federal government for carrying a consealed weapon on school premises. The court decided that Congress was stepping out of its boundaries because it has nothing to do with "commerce". -
United States v. Morrison
The court concluded that Congress lacked the authority to enact a statute under the Commerce Clause or the 14th Amendment because it did not regulate activity. Congress lacking the authority makes this a State law. -
Sept. 11, 2001
The nation was under attack by another country. Two planes crashed into the twin towers, another plane crashed into the Pentagon, and the last plane was brought down in Pennsylvania. The nation being attacked was a federal struggle. -
No Chikf Left Behind
United States Act of Congress that reauthoriztion of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, the government's flagship aid program for disadvantaged students. This act focuses on the the children of the state, so it is a state law.
