Federalism

Federalism

1. Elements of Federalism

   • Sharing of power between national and state government
   • Checks and Balances on eachother
   • Vote for both state and government officials
   • More layers of government, is more decentralized

2. Powers granted to different levels in a federal system

   • National Government
     • Coin Money
     • Conduct foreign relations
     • Regulate foreign commerce with foreign nations and among states.
     • Provide army and navy and declare war
     • Establish courts inferior to supreme court
   • State Government
     • Establish local governments
     • Regulate commerce in a state
     • Ratify amendments to the federal constitution
   • Both National and State
     • Tax, borrow money
     • Establish courts/ make and enforce laws
     • Charter banks and corporations, spend money for the general welfare

3. Role of the Bill of Rights

   • State constitutions guarantee many basic rights. However, few Americans would feel comfortable with only state protections for their liberties. The Bill of Rights is the ultimate legal defense of freedom

4. Examples of Conflict

   • McCulloch V. Maryland
     • Implied powers and enumerated powers of the constitution
   • Gibbons V. Ogden
     • The right of congress to regulate interstate commerce
   • Civil War
     • War about both slavery and state sovereignty

5. Trends in federal Government over time

   • Dual federalism
     • Both states and national governments remain supreme in their own spheres
   • Cooperative Federalism
     • More on the idea of shared powers of federal governments
   • Fiscal Federalism
     • The pattern on spending and tax on the federal system
   • Devolution
     • Transferring responsibility for policies form the federal government to the state and local governments