Federalism

Federalism

In the book, federalism is defined as a system of government in which power is constitutionally divided between central and sub-national governments. In the United States, the central government is the national or federal government, and the sub-national government is the state government. Federalism is evident in the United States because each state is sovereign and has power over most local affairs, while the federal government still has control over anything that affects the well-being of the nation. Every state has checks and balances that can be used to limit the power of the federal government and prevent the possibility of tyrannical actions from an over-bearing central government. Dual federalism is supposed to represent a system in which neither state nor central government is more powerful than the other, however dual federalism appears to favor the central government in a sense that if there is a conflict between state and national laws, the central government will always override the state government. A good example of federalism is appealed court cases. Some cases can be appealed after they go through the state court systems and can make it all the way to the Supreme Court. This shows that even though the states have their own power, the national government still gets the final say in matters concerning the nation and constitutional rights, thus demonstrating the separation of power in federalism. Federalism provides the balance and stability necessary to keep our country running smoothly.