What is the difference between federal govt and state govt

It regulates the local issues or activities which have been done or regulated within the boundaries of the state. The state government is responsible for the welfare of the citizens residing in the state, and it has to act according to the powers and authority decided by the legal authority and constitution of the nation.

It can also make the relevant rules for interstate trade. For the better functioning of several nations, the government is segmented into two major parts. The powers are divided into exclusive powers and concurrent powers.

Powers that are restricted to the federal government or state government are termed exclusive powers, while powers that are enjoyed or shared by both federal government and state government are termed as concurrent powers. The federal government is responsible for regulating and legislating various functions nationwide, including all the states and territories.

These functions include:. In the case of the United States, that power is exercised indirectly, through elected representatives. Although the U. The Greeks are often credited with pioneering a democratic government that went on to influence the structure of the United States.

Read this article that describes how elements of ancient Greek democracy heavily influenced the figures that designed the United States government. Join our community of educators and receive the latest information on National Geographic's resources for you and your students.

Skip to content. Image President James Madison While the federal government of the United States is often the ultimate authority, there are many government responsibilities left unspoken. Twitter Facebook Pinterest Google Classroom.

Article Vocabulary. Media Credits The audio, illustrations, photos, and videos are credited beneath the media asset, except for promotional images, which generally link to another page that contains the media credit. Media If a media asset is downloadable, a download button appears in the corner of the media viewer. Text Text on this page is printable and can be used according to our Terms of Service.

Interactives Any interactives on this page can only be played while you are visiting our website. Related Resources. Forms of Government. View Collection. Rule of Law. View Article. The Federal Role in Immigration. View leveled Article. Greek Influence on U. Educational Resources in Your Inbox. The people of the district vote the members of the school board into office. Some roles of a school board:.

The Superintendent is the head administrator within a district. His or her responsibilities include:. The chief state school official is appointed by the governor and, along with other state education positions, has many responsibilities:. When people talk about the federal government, they generally mean the national government, although the term often refers to the division of powers between the state and national governments.

A presiding officer can have either a major or minor leadership role in his or her house. Sunset legislation can be used in several situations. Sources: gao. This is a card processor fee. Please know that a recurring donation of the amount and frequency that you selected will be processed and initiated tomorrow.

Continue to secure page ». Government For Teachers. From the Constitution, the national government derives express powers implied powers inherent powers Article I, Section 10 of the Constitution of the United States puts limits on the powers of the states.

Powers Reserved to the States The Tenth Amendment declares, "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.

These powers have taken many different forms. States must take responsibility for areas such as: ownership of property education of inhabitants implementation of welfare and other benefits programs and distribution of aid protecting people from local threats maintaining a justice system setting up local governments such as counties and municipalities maintaining state highways and setting up the means of administrating local roads regulation of industry raising funds to support their activities In many areas, states have a large role but also share administrative responsibility with local and federal governments.

Mandates States must also administer mandates set by the federal government. Grants Grants are an important tool used by the federal government to provide program funding to state and local governments. State Constitutions The Basics Each state has its own constitution which it uses as the basis for laws. Length and Specificity State constitutions also tend to be significantly more lengthy than the U.

Amendment All state constitutions provide for a means of amendment. The Legislature All states have a bicameral, or two-house legislature, except Nebraska, which has a unicameral, or single, house. The Upper House called the Senate. Leadership Like the national legislature, each house in a state legislature has a presiding officer.

States grant legislatures a variety of functions: Enact laws Represent the needs of their constituents Share budget-making responsibilities with Governor Confirm nominations of state officials House begins impeachment proceedings, Senate conducts the trial if there is an impeachment.

Casework Oversight - review of the executive branch. Governor The Governor is a state's chief executive. Roles: Appointments The Governor is chiefly responsible for making appointments to state agencies and offices. These powers include: The ability to appoint for specific posts in the executive branch. The ability to appoint to fill a vacancy caused by the death or resignation of an elected official Chief of State Chief Executive - draws up budget, also has clemency and military powers Veto Power Like the U.

President, a governor has the right to veto bills passed by the legislature. Vetoes can be overridden by a two-thirds or three-fourths majority in the legislature. In many states, the governor has the power of a line-item veto. In some states, the governor has the power of an amendatory or conditional veto.

General Governor Information Other Elected Positions Within the Executive Branch The president and vice-president are the only elected executive positions within the federal government. Some examples include: Lieutenant Governor: Succeeds the governor in office and presides over the senate. Secretary of State - Takes care of public records and documents, also may have many other responsibilities.

Attorney General - Responsible for representing the state in all court cases. Auditor - Makes sure that public money has been spent legally. Treasurer - Invests and pays out state funds. Superintendent of Public Instruction - Heads state department of education.

Debt Like the Federal government, state governments also have debts. Education One of the largest issue areas left to the discretion of the states is education. Some roles of a school board: Administer general district policy Make sure the district is in tune with local interests Hire or fire the superintendent The Superintendent is the head administrator within a district.