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The relationship between Federal Government and State Government
Relations between local, state and federal
The relationship between Federal Government and State Government
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Elliot Bulmer discusses “potential disadvantages of federalism” in terms of, “Duplication of work and lack of cohesion, additional operating costs, increasing regional discrepancies of wealth, resources and outcomes, harmful economic competition between subnational units, judicialization of politics, potential exclusion of minorities, the strengthening of local elites who misuse power, ineffective governance because of lack of capacity and instability and threats to democracy”.
Federalism may be an ineffective form of Government as there are replication of government performances that can lead to the coinciding of policies at different levels of management. In addition, the imbalance of power within in federalism may cause dispute between
national and state government. Furthermore, federalism may cause undesirable amounts of funding to be spent on operational cost, to cater to the organisations and staff, causing substantial strain on economic growth and inequality of distribution of monies to states due to their needs such as the amount of citizens, resources and developments, causing disproportionate funding making a state unsustainable in terms of limiting their ability to develop economically resulting in reduced development of organisations and public services. Federalism may also hinder the recognition and opportunities of cultural groups, by means of exposing them to inequality and inequity due to them being a minority, however a strong government can safeguard and provide equal fortification of the law.
Paul Peterson wrote on the price of federalism. He weighed out options and the consequences of having a federal government. In this chapter, Peterson comes up with the description of two theories, the functional and the legislative. According to Peterson, the functional theory was positive and implied that the federal governments are tasked to perform their obligations fully to the people (Coleman et al, 2011). The legislative theory is brought forward as pessimist by arguing that leaders misuse their powers. Furthermore, Peterson recommends the incorporation of economic realities into policies for proper governance.
On September 28, 1787 Confederation Congress sent out the draft of the Constitution. This was the first time in history for the people to debate, discuss, and decide with a vote for how they wanted to be governed. There were two groups that debated the thought of the Constitution. They were called Federalists and anti-Federalists.
This passage places emphasis on one of the three arguments James Madison makes in Federalist 10. Madison explicates the deficit of factions specifically factions that could cause nothing but “mischief” for the United States. In this particular passage, he explains how factions are inevitable in our country, however, controlling the effect of factions would diminish their “mischievous impact.” Thus, prohibiting factions assists in reducing the probability of “[a] weaker party or an obnoxious individual” from gaining power over the minority. These smaller factions that Madison hopes to avoid are a direct result of “pure democracy” that he accounts as have “general[ly]…short in their lives as they have been violent in their deaths.” Therefore, this particular fragment from federalist 10 serves as the precedent to the introduction of a mixed Constitution of a democracy and republic, in this case, a large republic.
Eric Foner claims the definition of Federalism refers to the relationship between the national government and the states. Unlike the Constitution, the Articles of Confederation came with many weaknesses. Some provided by our powerpoint include that the Federal government had no power to make the states obey the Articles and laws that were passed by the legislature. The states also had the power to tax, and the opportunity to print their own money. Our powerpoint focuses on the $10 million Congress owed to other countries, as well as the $40 million it owed to the American veterans. The Constitution differed. Foner states that not only did the Constitution enhance national authority, but it also permitted Congress to levy taxes, conduct commerce, confirm war, deal with the foreign nations and Indians, and rent and help the “general welfare”. According to the powerpoint, Federalists focused on the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation.
The Merits of the federal System is a discourse of Federalism: does the author think Federalism is a positive system? Why or why not:
Why should we question our government? Why should we doubt the decision that was taken for the better of the people years ago? Before federalism was even considered did we not have an anti federalist government? Did we not try to make it work? If anti-federalism is for the better of the people why did we feel the need to question it? Why did we feel the need to change it? The answer to all of these questions is simple. Anti-federalism is not and will never be for the better of the states, but most importantly it’s not for the better of the people as a whole.
Following the failure of the Articles of Confederation, a debate arose discussing how a centralized government ought to be organized. The prevailing opinion ultimately belonged to the Federalists, whose philosophy was famously outlined in The Federalist Papers. Recognizing that in a free nation, man would naturally divide himself into factions, they chose not to remedy this problem by stopping it at its source; instead, they would limit its effects by placing strict structural safeguards within the government's framework. The Federalists defined a facti...
The first argument of this paper shall discuss the use of fiscal federalism as a highly beneficial and worthwhile cost for maintenance of policy proposals. As fiscal federalism is defined as “understanding which functions and instruments are best centralized and which are best placed in the sphere of decentralized levels of government” , it will be witnessed that the decentralized use of fiscal federalism is its best use. Fiscal federalism refers to vertical imbalances where the central government gives too much or too little money to lower levels of government. If local governments and...
To define the terminology of federalism to a simplistic way is the sharing of sovereignty between the national government and the local government. It is often described as the dual sovereignty of governments between the national and the local to exert power in the political system. In the US it is often been justified as one of the first to introduce federalism by the ‘founding fathers’ which were developed in order to escape from the overpowered central government. However, federalism in the United States is hitherto uncertain where the power lies in the contemporary political system. In this essay I will outline and explain how power relationship alternates between states and federal government. Moreover I will also discuss my perspective by weighing the evidence based upon resources. Based on these resources, it will aid me to evaluate the recent development in the federal-state relationship.
Frist, federalism is the division of power between the provinces and the federal government (Cutler 2010, 3). As well, Federal systems tend to be made up of multiple parts, which do not necessarily work together (Brock 2008, 3). There has been an increase on the study of federalism in recent years, which has created a more in-depth look at how federalism impacts the government. (Farfard Rocher 2009, 294). There are two aspects of federalism and both of them put limitations on the influence of the prime minister. The first is called political asymmetry; this encompasses the various attitudes of the different provinces such as the culture, economic, social and political conditions and how it shapes the relationship between the provincial and federal governments (Brock 2008, 4). This can create a problem for the federal government because it means that they may ha...
Talk about some of the advantages and disadvantages of federalism. Does this system serve the United States well? Why or why not? From my notion federalism has a more moral outlook on our country as a hold. They try to prevent a stronger power by distributing some essential power to the states which also gives the United States citizens more option. Different states have different policies which will attract citizen that concur with their laws. For instance gay marriage, some states in the United States support gay marriage and believe that people should marry who they want to marry no matter the gender. California is one of those states. According to an article written by Tamara Thompson, “States are strongly divided on same-sex marriage; thirty-three states prohibit same-sex marriage, including 29 states that have prohibitions in their state constitutions. With New Mexico, 17 states along with the District of Columbia allow same-sex marriage; most states that have recently allowed same-sex marriage have done so through legislation.” With that said individuals who live in Georgia, where gay marriage is banned, are free to move to any other states where gay marriage is permitted. Legalization of marijuana in certain states but not in another can be a second example of why giving states power to make their own law can benefit us as citizens. If we don’t concur with one state law, we can move to a state with the laws we do agree with; therefore, giving states control is definitely a pro rather than a con. On the other hand, we have the cons and disadvantages of federalism. One disadvantage of federalism is the fact that states that have contradicting laws that is in the vicinity of each other can be affected by each other. For example states who legalize marijuana, which includes but not
therefore should be a balance of accommodation of regional interests and an established integration of each subnational unit into the national federal system (Iff, 2002). On the other hand, Asymmetrical federalism allows three possible systems: 1-more power at the national level, 2-certain regional, subnational units to have more power in the national government, or 3-a combination of both. As Andrea Iff suggests, this can provide enough fuel for separatist movements dissatisfied with the uneven representation of regional interests (Iff, 2002). The disaffected subnational units may become disillusioned with the federal system in their nation and either attempt to overthrow the system or secede from the federation to establish local self-governance.
Federalism, by definition, is the division of government authority between at least two levels of government. In the United States, authority is divided between the state and national government. “Advocates of a strong federal system believe that the state and local governments do not have the sophistication to deal with the major problems facing the country” (Encarta.com).
In conclusion Federalism is a big part of our country. Federalism does have its pros and cons but it’s safe to say that it has so far worked out fairly well. Still, we must keep in mind that federalism does affects our everyday lives and many times we take for granted that the individual in political parties will make the right decisions for the well-being of the public, though at times it is not always be the case. We must remember that for change to happen we must be involved and ready to learn and see and understand ways that we can make a difference, for at the end of the day it is our lives that are affected with every single decision that is made.
Federalism is a legal concept that is centered around the concept that law is best handled as a two layered responsibility. Federalism is also built on a belief that sharing power with the local government is key to a successful governance. According to the text book, “the United States was the first nation to adopt federalism as its governing framework” (pg83). The following are a few examples of some advantages, as well as disadvantages of Federalism.