HGovt – 4.2 The National Govt and the 50 States

*The Constitution requires:

1. nat’l govt to promise states certain things

2. makes it possible for the fed to do certain things for the states

The Nation’s Obligations

Art IV – where you can find obligations nat’l govt owes to the states

Republican form of govt

  • Generally interpreted as representative govt
  • Sup Crt says Exec and leg decide what representative govt means; weird
  • A/f Civ War, congress would not re-admit states til they ratified Amends 13-15
  • Nat’l govts will protect states form invasion, like it was a federal problem when 9/11 happened in Manhattan
  • Today that is a given, back in the day, not so much. So each state demanded that guarantee before it would give up its military.
  • Most “riots” would be controlled by state, but when things get out of hand we’ve got the Nat’l guard, to protect all from “domestic violence”
  • 1967 – Johnson, at behest of Romney (yes, that guys dad) sent in the army when police and nat’l guard overwhelmed; again in Balt and Chicago when MLK killed
  • 1992 – GHW w/ Rodney King
  • POTUS can order in troops w/out request of the state (Cleveland and Pullman Strike of 1894

Respect for Territorial Integrity

  • Fed must recognize boundaries and existence of the states
  • Art V - no state can be deprived of its equal representation in the US Senate without its own consent

Admitting New State

  • Under AOC, congress of the Confederation passed the NW Ord of 1787, most important measure passed during 8yr existence of the AOC
  • Any state in N or Ohio R. & W of colonies could apply for statehood if they had 60K
  • 1785 – created townships responsible for public schooling (this is cool b/c it proves that the govt accounts for and values education?)
  • Once Const adopted, so to was the Ord & it set up how other states would be formed and admitted to the Union
  • WE WOULD NEVER AQUIRE TERRITORY UNLESS IT WOULD EVENTUALLY BECOME A STATE! (Puerto Rico, Hawaii, and Al?)

Congress and the New States