If The United States is "United''Then Why

Here in Florida for an additional fee you can get specialty plate that supports the cause of your choice. There are over 100 different to choose from. My complaint is that you can't get one if you have a handicap parking symbol on your plate. You can see them on the Florida Motor Vehicle web site.
 

The main difference between the United States and England (not UK) is that the U.S. has a federal constitution that sets out the construct of the nation and the central government. My understanding is that England has no written constitution which sets forth the relationship between the government and the government nor a plan for such. Instead, it simply has a series of unwritten understandings.

The power to govern in the U.S. is drawn from the people. (Not granted from the monarchy.) The people are organized into States. These States were originally the seats of real power with only specific powers granted to the Federal Government. As a matter of fact the U.S. constitution specifically states that if a power is not specifically granted within the body of the constitution the Federal government shall not have that power, but only the States shall. So in the theory of construct the U.S. is truly a United group of States under the written constitution. Each State governs its own territory. Thus different license plates.
 
MarciKS said:
I'm sure identification is quicker with it divided up than trying to search one data base for the proverbial needle in a haystack.
Click to expand...
I'm sure you are correct about that but the Constitution was drawn up long before searchable data bases were a thing and also long before the advent of automobiles. The Australian constitution similarly sets up a federation of states in that the national government has certain proscribed responsibilities such as defence, customs and excise, other taxes and currency. Whatever is not listed as a federal power/responsibility remains a power of the states.

It would be remarkable if the founding fathers envisaged that the US government would one day have to issue licence plates for every vehicle travelling on public roads. However, they did foresee that over time the Constitution might need some amending and provided a mechanism for doing just that. We all know how difficult it is to persuade the people to agree to constitutional amendments.
 

Holly, here is a case (had to remember the name), that helps explain the Independent Sovereignty of the States. It concerns being tried twice for the same crime, but, two different states were involved.


Heath v. Alabama, 474 U.S. 82 (1985), is a case in which the United States Supreme Court ruled that, because of the doctrine of "dual sovereignty" (the concept that the United States and each state possess sovereignty – (a consequence of federalism), the double jeopardy clause of the Fifth Amendment to the Constitution does not prohibit one state from prosecuting and punishing somebody for an act of which they had already been convicted of and sentenced for in another state.
When a defendant in a single act violates the 'peace and dignity' of two sovereigns by breaking the laws of each, he has committed two distinct 'offences.' United States v. Lanza, 260 U.S. 377, 382, 43 S.Ct. 141, 67 L.Ed. 314 (1922)."[10]

Heath v. Alabama - Wikipedia
 
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