Federal Powers Worksheet
U.S. Government & Civics
Powers of Government
Delegated, Reserved, and Concurrent Powers in the American Federal System
Name:
Date: Period:
Part 1: Defining the Powers • Vocabulary Match
Write the letter of the matching definition on each line
1. Delegated Powers
2. Concurrent Powers
3. Reserved Powers
A. Powers kept exclusively by state governments or the people, protected under the 10th Amendment.
B. Powers specifically assigned to the national (federal) government by the U.S. Constitution (Article I, Section 8).
C. Powers exercised simultaneously and independently by both national and state governments.
Part 2: Government Power Classification
Identify: D (Delegated) • R (Reserved) • C (Concurrent)
- The federal government is the only authority that can coin (make) and regulate money.
D R C
- Indiana sets the specific qualifications and age requirements for obtaining a driver's license.
D R C
- Both the State of Indiana and the Federal government levy and collect income taxes on their citizens.
D R C
- Declaring war, negotiating international treaties, and maintaining the U.S. Armed Forces.
D R C
- Establishing public school systems, graduation requirements, and teacher licensing standards.
D R C
- Building highways, maintaining roadways, and creating court systems to administer justice.
D R C
- Regulating interstate commerce (trade between states) and trade with foreign nations.
D R C
- Conducting national, state, and local elections and setting voter registration procedures.
D R C
Part 3: Federalism Organizer
Place powers from the bank below into their proper column
Word Bank: Establish Post Offices • Issue Marriage Licenses • Borrow Money • Make Laws Necessary & Proper • Enforce Laws • Regulate Intrastate Commerce
Delegated (Federal)
Concurrent (Shared)
Reserved (State)
Turn page for Scenario Analysis & Constitutional Reasoning Page 1 of 2
Powers of Government • Page 2
Application & Constitutional Inquiry
Student Name:
Part 4: Real-World Scenario Investigations
Case A
The Currency Question (Delegated Powers)
Under Article I, Section 10 of the Constitution, individual states cannot coin money. Imagine if Indiana, Illinois, and Ohio each printed their own separate state currencies. Why is the power to coin money exclusively delegated to the federal government?
Case B
The Double Tax Assessment (Concurrent Powers)
Every April, working Hoosiers pay income tax to both the Federal IRS and the Indiana Dept. of Revenue. Why must both levels of government possess the concurrent power to tax citizens? What does each level fund?
Case C
Licensing & Local Rules (Reserved Powers)
In Indiana, eligible teens can get a probationary license at age 16 and 90 days, while other states set different ages and requirements. Why does the Constitution reserve licensing and traffic safety to individual states rather than a single national rule?
Part 5: The 10th Amendment & Constitutional Reasoning
Primary Source • Amendment X (1791)
"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."
1. In your own words, explain how the 10th Amendment protects states like Indiana from federal overreach:
2. How does dividing power between federal, state, and shared authorities protect the personal freedoms of citizens?
Civics & Government Review • Federalism Module Page 2 of 2
Federal Powers Answer Key
Teacher Answer Key Civics & Government
Powers of Government • Key
Quick-grading solutions and constitutional references for student review
Total Points: 30 Pts
Grading scale: P1 (17 pts) • P2 (13 pts)
Part 1: Defining the Powers • Solutions (3 Pts)
1 pt each
B 1. Delegated Powers
C 2. Concurrent Powers
A 3. Reserved Powers
A. Powers kept exclusively by state governments or the people (10th Amendment).
B. Powers specifically assigned to national government (Article I, Section 8).
C. Powers exercised simultaneously and independently by national & state levels.
Part 2: Power Classification • Solutions (8 Pts)
1 pt each
- The federal government coins (makes) and regulates money.
D (Delegated)
- Indiana sets qualifications and age for obtaining a driver's license.
R (Reserved)
- Both Indiana and the Federal gov levy and collect income taxes.
C (Concurrent)
- Declaring war, negotiating treaties, and maintaining armed forces.
D (Delegated)
- Establishing public schools, graduation & teacher licensing rules.
R (Reserved)
- Building highways, maintaining roads, and establishing court systems.
C (Concurrent)
- Regulating interstate trade and trade with foreign nations.
D (Delegated)
- Conducting elections and setting voter registration procedures.
R (Reserved)
Part 3: Federalism Organizer • Solutions (6 Pts)
1 pt per correct term placement
Bank: Post Offices • Marriage Licenses • Borrow Money • Necessary & Proper Laws • Enforce Laws • Intrastate Commerce
Delegated (Federal)
- • Establish Post Offices
- • Make Laws Necessary & Proper
Concurrent (Shared)
- • Borrow Money
- • Enforce Laws
Reserved (State)
- • Issue Marriage Licenses
- • Regulate Intrastate Commerce
Teacher Guide & Scoring Rubric • Federalism Module Page 1 of 2
Teacher Answer Key • Page 2
Scenario & Synthesis Scoring Rubric
Page 2 Points: 13 Pts (Scenarios: 9 pts • Synthesis: 4 pts)
Part 4: Scenario Scoring Guidelines (3 Pts Each / 9 Pts Total)
Accept reasonable variations of core concepts
Case A: The Currency Question (Delegated) 3 Pts
Core question: Why is coining money exclusively delegated to the federal government?
Exemplar Answer: If each state printed its own currency, interstate commerce would break down due to fluctuating values, counterfeiting, and trade barriers (as happened under the Articles of Confederation). A single national currency guarantees uniform value, stability, and nationwide economic trust.
Case B: The Double Tax Assessment (Concurrent) 3 Pts
Core question: Why must both levels have taxing power and what does each level fund?
Exemplar Answer: Both governments need independent revenue to function without being subordinate to each other. Federal taxes fund national defense, federal courts, and interstate highways; Indiana state taxes fund local public schools, state police, county roads, and state universities.
Case C: Licensing & Local Rules (Reserved) 3 Pts
Core question: Why does the Constitution reserve licensing/safety to individual states?
Exemplar Answer: Under the 10th Amendment police powers, state governments are closer to their citizens and understand local conditions, terrain, population density, and regional safety needs better than a distant federal government could with a one-size-fits-all policy.
Part 5: The 10th Amendment & Synthesis Solutions (4 Pts Total)
2 pts each
1. How does the 10th Amendment protect states like Indiana from federal overreach? (2 Pts)
Exemplar Answer: It acts as a constitutional shield by establishing that powers not explicitly given to the federal government in the Constitution automatically remain with the states or the people. This restricts federal power to defined boundaries and prevents national authorities from seizing control of purely local decisions.
2. How does dividing power between federal, state, and shared authorities protect personal freedom? (2 Pts)
Exemplar Answer: Federalism prevents tyranny by dispersing power so that no single government or official has absolute control (a system of checks and balances). If one level of government passes unjust policies or infringes on rights, citizens can seek protection from the other level, and local governance ensures citizens have a direct voice in community laws.
Civics & Government Teacher Key • Federalism Module Page 2 of 2
