Which of the following is a power the states do NOT have?

• A. Printing money
• B. Making treaties
• C. Conducting foreign policy
• D. Regulating intrastate commerce

Answer: (B)

The key idea here is that foreign policy is handled by the national government, not the states. Only the federal level has the authority to negotiate and formalize treaties with other countries, and those treaties require the President’s signature and Senate approval. If a state tried to enter into a treaty on its own, it would conflict with the national government’s exclusive role in international relations and could undermine national sovereignty.

Think of it this way: a treaty is a formal international agreement that binds the U.S. as a whole. States can do many things within their borders, like regulating intrastate commerce, but they cannot bind the United States to international commitments. They also don’t print money—currency is a national function—nor do they set foreign policy, which is another federal prerogative. When states engage with the world, they do so within the framework set by the federal government, often through mechanisms like interstate compacts with federal oversight.