Laboratories of democracy

High school (ages 12+)
People & Society

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/laboratories-of-democracy

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the constitutional foundation?Tenth Amendment, reserving powers to states
2. What is the key function?States test novel social and economic policies
3. What does "Laboratories of Democracy" mean?It means each state can try new ideas like a science lab, to see if they work before other states or the whole country try them.
4. Why can states try new laws without hurting the rest of the country?Because the U.S. Constitution says states have their own powers for health, safety, and welfare, so they can experiment safely.

Federalism: A system of government where power is divided between a national government and regional governments.
Police Powers: The inherent authority of states to enact laws and regulations for the health, safety, and welfare of their citizens.
Policy Incubation: The process by which states develop and refine new policies before they are considered nationally.