[Tricky1549]

What are the defined powers and respondsibilities of U. S. government under the U. S. Constitution? I'm asking if the fed. gov.followed the Constitution how many departments would there be and how large would the budget be. Thanks

[shygrneyzs]

Here are some links to Constitution sites:
Index Page - The U.S. Constitution Online - USConstitution.net
Constitution of the United States of America

[Fr_Chuck]

IF this is well a homework question, then the answer is to look in your text book that will be what the teacher wants.

In real life the constitution does not decide the budget or the departments
What it does do is only give the power to the states that are not specificly given. ( that went all down hill after the civil war.)

There are the three branches of government listed, but not departments within those.

[Tricky1549]

Thanks, Shy However Fr. Chuck I'm 49 and it's only for my own edification. What I'm really asking is how much smaller would the fed budget be if Congress and the Supreme Court followed the what the Constitution mandates.

[Fr_Chuck]

Well actually it would be a lot less, since there would not be any federal income tax and the IRS would not exist. Most of the departments wouldnot exist since it would be up to each state to make their own laws and rules. But each state would or could have very differnet laws since the federal government would have no direct control over each states law.

But then the state taxes would be much greater, since they would not be getting any federal money, and the state would have to pay into the federal government to pay its bills.

Sorry about that, it did sort of sound like a high school government class ( I guess they still require that, but talking to high school kids, it sure don't sound like they do)

** of course I am a states rights person, so I have lets say a one sided opinoin of it all.

[ScottGem]

Thanks, Shy However Fr. Chuck I'm 49 and it's only for my own edification. What I'm really asking is how much smaller would the fed budget be if Congress and the Supreme Court followed the what the Constitution mandates.

What makes you think it would be any smaller? Even if Congress did scale back on programs and mandates, its likely the states would have to fill the vacuum.

[Tricky1549]

Thanks all.

[tomder55]

Unlike Ron Paul I think that the expansion of the government is Constitutional but it is contrary to the principles of limited government .As is often the case there are 2 competing thoughts on the size of government . James Madison's view was that taxation must be tied to one of the other specifically enumerated powers such as regulating commerce or providing for the military.Alexander Hamilton believed that taxation is a separately enumerated, independent power, and that Congress may tax and spend in any way that will benefit the general welfare.


The Constitution's Congressional Spending Power authorizes Congress to "provide for the . . . general Welfare of the United States." The Constitution for the expenditures of federal funds.It allows Congress to compel states to comply with federal conditions by using the "carrot" of federal funds, and the "stick" of their withdrawal (and possible civil penalties) if a state fails to comply.The Supreme Court has upheld this Hamiltonian concept in SOUTH DAKOTA v. DOLE, 483 U.S. 203 (1987)

Addressing Fr Chuck's comment : The 16th Amendment made collection of income taxes Constitutional .

Addressing ScotGem's point. : Yes it is likely some States like NY ,the nanny state we both live in would fill the vaccume as you say .However to the extent that they would chose to do so ,that is their proper role in our federal system . Fr Chuck is correct that the 10th Amendment reserves much of the right that Congress usurps for the States to decide.

“ The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved for the States respectively, or to the people.

This is a question as old as the republic. Although I favor a lot of the Hamiltonian philosophy ,and I think Alexander Hamilton as one the underrated Founding Fathers , on this issue I side with the Madisonians. Congress too often imposes a one size fits all remedy that may suit the needs of New York but imposes unnecessary burdens on many other states.

[excon]

Hello Tricky:

Well, by my reading, the only Constitutional duty the Fed has is to maintain postal roads and have a post office. If that's all they did, that would be fine with me.

Well, ceptin for the Army.

excon

[nick3301975]

What are the defined powers and respondsibilities of U. S. government under the U. S. Constituion? I'm asking if the fed. gov.followed the Constituion how many departments would there be and how large would the budget be. Thanks

The defined responsibilties is to live by the phrase "we the people".because it's us who make it.It's those elected in who ruin it.