FEDERALISM

WHAT IS FEDERALISM?

Federalism is the type of government system that the United States has
• Federal
• State
• County
• City/Municipalities
 ENUMERATED POWERS
• Enumerated Powers are powers that ONLY belong to the federal government
• Washington, D.C.
• Legislative Branch—Congress (House of Representatives and Senate)
• Executive Branch—President, Vice President, cabinet (“Secretaries of…”)
• Judicial Branch—Supreme Court and lower federal courts
 RESERVED POWERS
• Reserved powers are powers that belong ONLY to the states
• Legislative Branch—General Assembly
• Executive Branch—Governor, Lt. Governor, and cabinet
• Governor (until November 2018): Bill Haslam
• Lieutenant Governor: Randy McNally

• Judicial Branch—Tennessee Supreme Court and lower state courts

 GIBSON COUNTY
• Gibson County also has a government
• Also split into districts

• They have certain control over different issues from within the county
• Legislative & Executive Branch—County Executive
• Commissioners —various departments that are devoted to various aspects of the county

• Judicial Branch--Circuit, Criminal, General Sessions and Juvenile Courts

• Chancellor serves an 8 year term
• Divorce, Adoption, Paternity, Legitimation, Surrender, Child Support, Conservatorships, Guardianships, Probate,
Real Estate Matters, Partition Suit, Name Change, Contract/Debt, Specific Performance, Trusts, Contempt, Minor
Settlements, and Foreign Judgements, and Delinquent Tax Records.)
• Can run concurrently with circuit court
 MEDINA
• Yes, even the town of Medina, TN, has a government
• Like the county, the city handles things within its city limits
• Legislative & Executive branches: Mayor and City Council (AKA: Board of
Alderman & Committee)
• Mayor: ________(until 2018); Vice Mayor: __________
• City Council Members: _________________

• Judicial Branch: Called ______________________Court; Located in City Hall