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 government alone can coin money, Bo asks?

   • Both levels of government
   • The national government
   • Local towns and cities
   • The fifty states
3. 2.

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

   • Run schools and issue licenses
   • Taxes, laws and courts
   • Coin money and make treaties
   • Declare a new king
4. 3.

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

   • The states
   • The national government
   • Congress
   • The Supreme Court
5. 4.

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

   • Neither level of government
   • National government only
   • States only, as a reserved power
   • Both levels of government
6. 5.

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

   • Nations, states and Indian tribes
   • No trade of any kind
   • Trade inside a single town
   • Trade with Britain alone
7. 6.

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

   • To Congress
   • To the president and the cabinet
   • To the states, or the people
   • To the courts
8. 7.

   Noah reads the word federalism. What does it mean?

   • Power held by the nation alone
   • Power shared by nation and states
   • Power held by a king
   • Power split among branches
9. 8.

   Pia reads the word concurrent. What are concurrent powers?

   • Powers the nation alone holds
   • Powers no one holds
   • Powers the states alone hold
   • Powers both levels hold
10. 9.

    Ren reads the word reserved. What are reserved powers?

    • Powers the states keep
    • Powers both share
    • Powers the courts keep
    • Powers the nation keeps
11. 10.

    Running schools belongs where in the diagram, Zee asks?

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