"Conversations on the Constitution: Federalism, " Feb. 11 (W) at 3:30pm

[Daniel Lake]

*The Institute for Ethics in Public Life would like to invite you to join
us for "Conversations on the Constitution: Federalism", on Wednesday,
February 11, at 3:30pm in person or on Zoom.*

The Constitution is the founding document of US democracy, yet most of us
have probably not read it or thought much about what it says or why.
Understanding how our government was supposed to function, and why the
founders set it up that way is particularly important in the current era
due to the battles over government powers playing out in the courts and
society.

For the fourth "conversation on the Constitution" hosted at the Institute
this year we will be discussing federalism. Federalism is embedded in the
Constitution in various places including Article I
<https://www.google.com/url?q=https://constitution.congress.gov/constitution/article-1/&sa=D&source=calendar&ust=1770820498632733&usg=AOvVaw2UliGTHgBFB9FxBYURNgnq>
section
4, where states are given primary responsibility for elections, Article 1
sections 8 through 10, where the basic division of power between Congress
and the States is set out, the Supremacy Clause (Article VI
<https://www.google.com/url?q=https://constitution.congress.gov/constitution/article-6/&sa=D&source=calendar&ust=1770820498632733&usg=AOvVaw3QjUqnGsru9Uq_II0X5WXj>,
clause 2) which specifies that the Constitution, treaties, and federal law
take precedence over conflicting state laws, and the Tenth Amendment
<https://constitution.congress.gov/constitution/amendment-10/> to the
Constitution, which states that if the Constitution does not grant the US
government a power it is reserved for the people and the States. We will
also discuss how the founders thought about the federalism, drawing upon
contemporary documents such as *Federalist* 44
<https://www.google.com/url?q=https://guides.loc.gov/federalist-papers/text-41-50%23s-lg-box-wrapper-25493408&sa=D&source=calendar&ust=1770820498632733&usg=AOvVaw0LF3wwmVmNHe5nk6XZC-10>,
45
<https://www.google.com/url?q=https://guides.loc.gov/federalist-papers/text-41-50%23s-lg-box-wrapper-25493409&sa=D&source=calendar&ust=1770820498632733&usg=AOvVaw27pT0tp4H7OJEIddTWY3pJ>,
and 46
<https://www.google.com/url?q=https://guides.loc.gov/federalist-papers/text-41-50%23s-lg-box-wrapper-25493411&sa=D&source=calendar&ust=1770820498632733&usg=AOvVaw0pt9en9Z1gFxUVd1JaZnYw>.
In addition, we'll discuss how American federalism has evolved over time.

Please join us in person in the Thomas Moran Seminar Room of the Institute
for Ethics in Public Life (Hawkins 233) or on Zoom (see below).

Daniel Lake is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Topic: Conversations on the Constitution IV: Federalism
Time: Feb 11, 2026 03:30 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://plattsburgh.zoom.us/j/84751632931
<https://www.google.com/url?q=https://plattsburgh.zoom.us/j/84751632931&sa=D&source=calendar&ust=1770820498632733&usg=AOvVaw31ZJErFFfPwn4l5qTxrefK>

Meeting ID: 847 5163 2931


-- 

*Daniel Lake*

(pronouns: he/him/his)

Professor of Political Science

Director, Institute for Ethics in Public Life

Hawkins 149A

101 Broad Street
<https://maps.google.com/?q=101+Broad+Street+Plattsburgh,+NY+12901&entry=gmail&source=g>

Plattsburgh, NY 12901
<https://maps.google.com/?q=101+Broad+Street+Plattsburgh,+NY+12901&entry=gmail&source=g>

(o) 518-564-5833 <(518)%5645833>

*plattsburgh.edu <http://plattsburgh.edu/>*
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