What does the federal government do?

#Its powers are listed in the Constitution

The Constitution gives Congress a list of powers, including collecting taxes, borrowing money, coining money and regulating trade with other countries and among the states. Congress can also set the rules for becoming a citizen, run post offices, declare war, and raise an army and a navy. Under the Tenth Amendment, powers not given to the federal government, and not denied to the states, are reserved to the states or to the people.

#Three branches share the work

• Congress, made up of the Senate and the House of Representatives, writes federal laws and decides how federal money is spent. No money can leave the Treasury unless a law allows it.
• The president leads the executive branch, whose departments and agencies carry out federal laws. Each year the president also sends Congress a proposed budget.
• Federal courts decide cases about the Constitution, federal laws and treaties, along with some other disputes, such as those between two states.

#Where you see it in daily life

You deal with federal law when you apply for a passport, which the US Secretary of State issues, or when you pay federal taxes or mail a letter. Bankruptcy cases also go to federal court. Many other everyday services come from local governments working under state law. Counties, cities and townships provide police and fire protection, road repair, water and sewer service, trash collection and parks.

#When federal and state law conflict

The Constitution makes itself, and federal laws made under it, “the supreme Law of the Land.” If a valid federal law truly conflicts with a state law, the federal law wins. But the federal government can use only the powers the Constitution grants. It does not pick your governor, mayor, sheriff or school board, because state and local law decides how those officials are chosen.