Government 12 grade

Question

How the principle of American governance that allow different states to make different law and executive orders to regulate citizens?

Answer 1

Hi Lesya -- I think the principles your question refers to are Federalism and the Separation of Powers.

According to the US Constitution, Article X, "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." This allows states to make laws that are different from Federal (national) laws where the Constitution does not reserve those powers to the Congress.

Article II of the Constitution grants the president the power to enforce the laws Congress has passed, and that power, in recent decades especially, has taken the form of executive orders. This shows that the president has the role of executive (executing the laws), while Congress retains the power to write them (legislative).

I hope this helps!

Answer 2

I am not sure if I am understanding your question, but an example might be along the lines of the current issue of Marijuana. Under national law, it is illegal, despite being legalized in many states. During the Obama administration, he issued an executive order telling federal law enforcement not to enforce these laws in states that went through a democratic process to legalize it.