To determine which state government policies would be constitutional based on the Tenth Amendment and Article I, Section 10 of the U.S. Constitution, we need to examine each option:
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A state could create a new silver dollar coin to support the war effort.
- This is unconstitutional. According to Article I, Section 10, states cannot coin money or make anything but gold and silver coin a tender in payment of debts. Only the federal government has the power to create currency.
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A state could create its own military to defend itself against the other nation.
- This is also unconstitutional. Article I, Section 10 prohibits states from keeping troops or ships of war during peacetime without the consent of Congress. Only the federal government has the authority to raise and maintain military forces.
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A state could require its public school students to learn about the causes of the war.
- This is constitutional. Education is typically a power reserved to the states under the Tenth Amendment, and a state can determine its educational curriculum without federal interference, provided it does not violate other federal laws.
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A state could make a treaty with the other nation ending hostilities between that state and the other country.
- This is unconstitutional. Article I, Section 10 explicitly states that no state shall enter into any treaty, alliance, or confederation without the consent of the Congress.
Based on this analysis, the policy that would be constitutional is:
- A state could require its public school students to learn about the causes of the war.