What Is Federalism?

Reserved powers

Under our federal type of government, the states are free to keep certain powers. Some limits were put on the U. S. government in the Bill of Rights of 1791.

The 10th Amendment makes it very clear that the powers not given to the national government are reserved, or saved, for the states. For example, states have the power to set up a system to educate their people. But states are denied the right to print their own money and to make treaties with other governments. Both the U.S. and state governments are given the power to:

• collect taxes.

• borrow money.

• take private property for public use after paying a fair price.

In 2005, Betty Debnam, creator of The Mini Page, worked closely with the National Archives in Washington, D.C., to create a nine-part series of issues about our U.S. Constitution. This is the sixth issue in the series, which will continue once a month until Election Day 2020.