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  • Essay / What are the pros and cons of federalism - 1610

    For example, there are state gun rights laws and restrictions that all states must follow. However, Colorado also has more specific laws regarding the rights of Colorado residents regarding firearms in Colorado, for example, Colorado is the only state that does not require a license for handgun owners . No part of the Constitution deals with federalism; rather, the whole is a list that divides powers accordingly. Congress helps pass most laws passed by the national government, demonstrating that it is the national government's most important asset. Article 1 Section 8 is the strictest list of powers of the national government in the Constitution. (76). This list, aided by a clause, gives Congress the power to make all “necessary and proper” laws. This is called the Necessary and Proper Clause and has been used to justify powers that Congress has given itself that are not specifically mentioned in the Constitution. Another clause that works with this is the supremacy clause which essentially states that national law is the law of the land, showing that federal law trumps state law. With these clauses, it appears that federal law has all the powers, but Article I, Section 9, limits federal law with a list of specific powers not granted to Congress (76) . As well as the Bill of Rights which limits the power of the federal government over individuals.