Federalism
What is Federalism?
● Federalism: a political system in which authority is divided between different
levels of government
● How many governments does the U.S. have?
○ Supreme Courts, 50 state governments and all of the local
governments in those states
● What are the different levels of government that we have?
○ Supreme Court, State, Local
● What does the Constitution say?
● No single section of the Constitution deals with federalism
● Enumerated powers of Congress – strongest statement of national power
● For a democratic government to be called ‘federal system,’ each level of
government must have:
○ Its own set of elected officials
○ Its own capacity to raise revenue (taxation)
○ Independent authority to pass laws regulating citizens
● An American invention
○ Why? Ratification; Diversity of economic interests
● Relatively uncommon in the world today, but where it exists, power is divided
between central and regional units. Other examples:
○ Germany (federal government and the bund, or German States)
○ Canada (national parliament and the provinces)
What is federalism NOT?
● Unitary Government
○ A power is central in one government
○ Regional governments are simply extensions of the national government
○ No unit but the central government is sovereign
● Confederal System (Articles of Confederation)
○ Local governments hold all the power
○ National government is largely symbolic
Federalism
● The necessary and proper clause: constitutional authorization for Congress to
make any law required to carry out its powers
What is Federalism?
● Federalism: a political system in which authority is divided between different
levels of government
● How many governments does the U.S. have?
○ Supreme Courts, 50 state governments and all of the local
governments in those states
● What are the different levels of government that we have?
○ Supreme Court, State, Local
● What does the Constitution say?
● No single section of the Constitution deals with federalism
● Enumerated powers of Congress – strongest statement of national power
● For a democratic government to be called ‘federal system,’ each level of
government must have:
○ Its own set of elected officials
○ Its own capacity to raise revenue (taxation)
○ Independent authority to pass laws regulating citizens
● An American invention
○ Why? Ratification; Diversity of economic interests
● Relatively uncommon in the world today, but where it exists, power is divided
between central and regional units. Other examples:
○ Germany (federal government and the bund, or German States)
○ Canada (national parliament and the provinces)
What is federalism NOT?
● Unitary Government
○ A power is central in one government
○ Regional governments are simply extensions of the national government
○ No unit but the central government is sovereign
● Confederal System (Articles of Confederation)
○ Local governments hold all the power
○ National government is largely symbolic
Federalism
● The necessary and proper clause: constitutional authorization for Congress to
make any law required to carry out its powers
