Problem 1: Which one of the Enumerated Powers (17 powers listed ) given to the Federal Government by the U.S. Constitution in Article 1. Section 8. Authorizes the U. S. Department of Interior (DOI) to act and respond to this drought and climate change in the specific case of the Colorado River Compact among 7 Western states? List the specific enumerated power that in your opinion provides this power to the DOI and provide 2 reasons for your choice.
Problem 2: The current conflict between the six states (Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming ) and California is about how much each one of them have to cut in water use from the Colorado River in order to comply with the goals set by the Department of Interior (DoI).
The 6 states basically are saying that California is using the collective legal decisions called the "Law of the River" to avoid having to make larger cuts while leaving the 6 states with the biggest water cuts. In their view California is not taking into account the reality of the drought and is asserting legal rights that it acquired when the Colorado River had more water and we were not in a drought. To them, California has to cut much more water and allow them to cut less. California argues that current law protects its acquired rights of water use in the Colorado River Compact and therefore California is not obligated to cut more.. Provide two well thought and clear reasons of why you agree or disagree with either one of these two positions.
Problem 3: Which level of U.S. Government has the constitutional power to resolve this dispute among the 7 Western states and why? Cite the U.S. Constitutional provision that grants this power.