Checks and balances, and powers shared between the nation and the states

Grade 8 Social Studies Worksheet - Building Confidence

Circle the best answer.

1. Read this first

   Who holds which powers (a Venn diagram)

   Box National government only (delegated powers): coin money; regulate trade with other nations, among the states and with the Indian tribes; make treaties. Box Both (concurrent powers): collect taxes; make and enforce laws; run courts. Box States only (reserved powers): run schools; issue driver's licenses; oversee police and libraries, with local governments. Line 1 (Constitution (1787), Article I, Section 8, clause 5; as printed in 1840, p. 8): "To coin money, regulate the value thereof…" Line 2 (Constitution (1787), Article I, Section 8, clause 3; as printed in 1840, p. 8): "To regulate commerce with foreign nations, and among the several states, and with the Indian tribes…" Line 3 (Constitution, Tenth Amendment (1791); as printed in 1820, p. 33): "The powers not delegated to the United States by the constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states respectively, or to the people."

2. 1.

   Which powers are in the overlap of the Venn diagram, Esme asks?

   • Taxes, laws and courts
   • Declare a new king
   • Run schools and issue licenses
   • Coin money and make treaties
3. 2.

   Who issues driver's licenses, by the diagram, Jun asks?

   • The national government
   • The Supreme Court
   • The states
   • Congress
4. 3.

   Line 1 gives Congress the power to coin money. Which side of the diagram is that, Kira asks?

   • States only, as a reserved power
   • Neither level of government
   • National government only
   • Both levels of government
5. 4.

   By line 2, trade with whom may Congress regulate, Luz asks?

   • Trade inside a single town
   • Trade with Britain alone
   • Nations, states and Indian tribes
   • No trade of any kind
6. 5.

   By line 3, where do powers not delegated to the nation go, Milo asks?

   • To Congress
   • To the states, or the people
   • To the president and the cabinet
   • To the courts
7. 6.

   Noah reads the word federalism. What does it mean?

   • Power split among branches
   • Power held by a king
   • Power held by the nation alone
   • Power shared by nation and states
8. 7.

   Pia reads the word concurrent. What are concurrent powers?

   • Powers the states alone hold
   • Powers no one holds
   • Powers both levels hold
   • Powers the nation alone holds
9. 8.

   Ren reads the word reserved. What are reserved powers?

   • Powers the courts keep
   • Powers the nation keeps
   • Powers the states keep
   • Powers both share
10. 9.

    Making treaties belongs where in the diagram, Tala asks?

    • Both levels of government
    • States only, as a reserved power
    • National government only
    • Local towns and cities
11. 10.

    Running schools belongs where in the diagram, Zee asks?

    • Neither level
    • States, with local governments
    • The Supreme Court
    • The national government alone, in Washington