take on the role of an advocate and analyze how federal and state powers interact in addressing public, health, and environmental issues. Utilize the First Amendment, your state constitution, and any other documents needed. Select a topic from the list below and create a (one-page) visual representation—such as a brochure, a flyer, or infographic—that shows how your state’s government shares power with the federal government on your chosen topic.
Topics:
• COVID-19
• Vaccine policies
• Regulation of substances such as tobacco and cannabis
• Human trafficking
• Environment: The right to clean air and water
• Regulation of Class IV drug policies: Legal (ex. opioids) v. illegal (fentanyl, methamphetamine, etc.)
• OR choose your own relevant topic of interest
The role of an advocate and analyze how federal and state powers interact in addressing public, health
Sample Answer
Advocacy Analysis: The Dual Sovereignty of Clean Air and Water
As an advocate for environmental justice, it is essential to understand that protecting our natural resources is not the job of just one office. It is a shared responsibility known as Cooperative Federalism. This framework ensures that while the federal government sets a national "floor" for safety, states have the power to build higher "ceilings" to protect their specific ecosystems.
The Constitutional Foundation
The U.S. Constitution (10th Amendment): While not explicitly mentioning the environment, the 10th Amendment reserves "police powers" to the states. This allows states to regulate for the "public health, safety, and morals" of their citizens—the legal basis for state environmental agencies.