The National Government and the 50 States

Have you ever stop to think about the name of our country, the United States? It makes sense right? After all, our country is made up of a union of 50 states. The Constitution requires that the National Government provides certain things for the States and also allows the National Government to do certain things for the States.

The Constitution lists most of the National Government's obligations in Article IV.

Republican Form of Government

The Constitution states that the National Government has to "guarantee to every State in this Union a Republican Form of Government." This term is understood to mean a representative government. The President and the Congress get to decide if a State has a republican form of government. The republican form guarantee was made during the Civil War. Congress said that a lot of southern states did not have a republican form of government. They didn't accept any senators or representatives until the States did so.

Invasion and Internal Disorder

The Constitution also states that the National Government is to "protect each of them against Invasion; and on Application of the Legislature, or of the Executive against domestic Violence." Today, it is obvious that any invasion in among the States would be seen as an invasion of the whole national country. They made this guarantee because the original 13 States were not exactly cooperative with one another. The National Government assumes that the State can take care of common problems such as riots and what not. However, they know for sure that there can be internal disorders that the States cannot handle alone.

Respect for Territorial Integrity

The National Government is supposed to respect the territory of each State. In other words, the National Government must know each States' borders and area.

Admitting New States

Only congress has the power to admit new States to the Union. There is only one exception: a new State cannot be created by taking the territory of another state. Since the original 13 States, Congress has admitted 37 new States.

Admission Procedure

The procedure in which to create a new State is actually really simple. If people within an area want to create a new State, they first have to ask Congress. When Congress agrees, they pass an enabling act, which is act that forces the people of the territory to make a State constitution. When the make the constitution, the voters must agree upon it and it is sent to Congress. If they continue to agree, then Congress passes an act of admission, which is an act that actually creates the State. Of course, the President has to sign this document.

Conditions for Admission

Before admitting a new State, Congress has some conditions that you should be familiar with. For example, when Utah wanted to become a State, Congress said that they would not recognize the State unless they outlaw polygamy in their constitution. This means that Congress wants every State to be on the same page on certain things. Although they can set certain conditions, Congress cannot set a condition that stops a State from functioning independently.

Cooperative Federalism

Federalism creates a two part government. As a result of federalism, conflict is always in the mist of political battles. There is always a struggle between State power and National Government. In that case, our federal system of government has created many shared powers that belong to both the States and the National Government.

Federal Grants in Aid

Grants in aid programs are example of the cooperation between the States and the National Government. These grants help local governments perform their everyday functions. Grants in aid programs go back more than 200 years, even before the making of our Constitution. Since then, Congress has set up hundreds of grants in aid programs. These grants go to schools, reconstruction, buildings etc.

"Create a State Profile." Homeland Security.
"National versus State Government." Ben's Guide.