The Commission on intergovernmental relations Page: 64
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National action within the National Government's delegated
powers, when the lower levels of government cannot or will not
act:
(a) When the National Government is the only agency that
can summon the resources needed for an activity. For this
reason the Constitution entrusts defense to the National Government.
Similarly, primary responsibility for governmental action
in maintaining economic stability is given to the National Government
because it alone can command the main resources for
the task.
(b) When the activity cannot be handled within the geographic
and jurisdictional limits of smaller governmental units,
including those that could be created by compact. Regulation
of radio and television is an extreme example.
(c) When the activity requires a nationwide uniformity of
policy that cannot be achieved by interstate action. Sometimes
there must be an undeviating standard and hence an exclusively
National policy, as in immigration and naturalization, the currency,
and foreign relations.
(d) When a State through action or inaction does injury to
the people of other States. One of the main purposes of the
commerce clause was to eliminate State practices that hindered
the flow of goods across State lines. On this ground also, National
action is justified to prevent unrestrained exploitation of
an essential natural resource.
(e) When States fail to respect or to protect basic political
and civil rights that apply throughout the United States.
Informational and Financial Support
Two kinds of reasons make it proper for the National Government
to play a limited role as a participant in various service
and regulatory functions that rest primarily with the States.
(a) Some of the underlying reasons for National participation
flow from the simple fact that some types of information
may not be available or usable at all unless gathered at a central
point. A simple example is a fingerprint file. Other related
reasons for National participation result from the way in
which ideas are generated and diffused in the development of
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United States. Commission on Intergovernmental Relations. The Commission on intergovernmental relations, book, June 1955; Washington, D.C.. (https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc1051/m1/78/: accessed April 25, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, UNT Digital Library, https://digital.library.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.