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Federalism
How federalism works in America!
Federalism
 Federalism = A political system in which power is divided
between national and state governments.
 In a federal system, national and state governments are
independent yet interdependent—
 — that is, they possess certain unique powers and share
other powers.
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Why the United States Has a Federal
System
 The founding
fathers created
a compromise
between a strong
state government
and a strong
national
government.
 This compromise
helped the founders
gain support to ratify
the Constitution.
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Implied Powers of the National
Government
 Implied powers are powers not listed in the Constitution
but suggested by the expressed powers.
 The necessary and proper clause of the Constitution
gives the national government the power to make laws that
are “necessary and proper” for fulfilling congressional duties,
even though not specified
by the Constitution.
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Nonspecified Presidential Powers
 Inherent powers are presidential powers that are implied
but not stated in the Constitution.
 Inherent powers developed as presidents did what they
thought was necessary to fulfill the nation’s laws.
 Example:Thomas Jefferson approved the Louisiana Purchase
because he thought it was for the nation’s good.
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Solving National and State Conflicts
 The supremacy clause is a constitutional rule saying that
national laws will prevail over state laws when they conflict
(U.S. Constitution, Article VI, Section 2).
 However, some parts of the Constitution, including the Bill
of Rights, limit the power of the national government.
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State Powers:
Allowed or Denied
 Reserved powers are powers assigned or given to state
governments. Example:The authority to establish public
schools
 Delegated powers are powers
assigned or given to the national
government and denied to
the states.
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Shared Powers
 Concurrent powers are powers shared by the national
government and the states.
 Examples: The power to collect taxes, charter and regulate
banks, establish highways,
and pass and enforce laws
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National Obligations to the States
 The Constitution says the national government should:
 Ensure that every state has a republican form of government
 Protect the states
 Respect states’ boundaries
 Enforce states’ representation in Congress
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Alternatives to Federalism
 In a unitary system, the central
government has all power.
Example: Great Britain
 In a confederal system, the
local government has all power.
Example: European Union
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Federalism
 Original goals of federalism:
 Enable the government to take effective action
 Help maintain economic stability
 Regulate disputes among states
 Preserve state independence
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Effects of Federalism on
State Politics
 States benefit from a national government.
 States compete against each other for business. Example:
States offer tax breaks to businesses locating within their
borders.
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Effects of Federalism on Citizens
 Citizens have access to officials and the processes of
government.
 Groups of people who try to influence public policy—called
interest groups—have more power.
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Results of the Increased Flexibility
under Federalism




Advantages
Makes it possible to solve problems at the level where they
occur
Allows for a variety of state experiments to provide the best
solutions for all
Disadvantages
Leads to a harmful absorption of great expenses
Causes inconsistencies from state to state
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Balance between National and State
Governments
 The Constitution is vague about the distribution of power
between national and state governments.
 Supreme Court rulings directly affect both types of
government.
 Major events, such as the
September 11, 2001,
attacks, transform state and
national governments.
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Growth of Government
 American government is growing at all levels:
 National
 State
 Local
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Events That Changed Governmental
Power
 Civil War
 Great Depression / New Deal
 Civil rights movement
 September 11, 2001 attacks
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Reasons for National Control
 Social and economic problems, such as pollution and
discrimination, are easier to solve at the national level.
 Members of Congress want to control policies that will affect
their own states.
 Congress can block states from doing certain things, such as
practicing segregation.
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Getting States to Cooperate
 Federal policy makers experience difficulties enforcing
legislation in the states.
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How the National Government
Influences the States
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Moving Power to the States
Devolution = The effort to give more power and responsibility
back to the states
 Frustration
with the
size of the
national
government
has led
to the
movement
called
devolution.
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Moving Power to the States
 The push for devolution has come from three sources:



The states themselves
Congress
The Supreme Court
 The national government and the states constantly struggle
for power.
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Devolution and the
Bush Administration
 Before September 11, 2001, President George W. Bush
planned to strengthen states’ rights.
 After September 11, 2001, this plan faded because of the
national government’s increased role in protecting the
country.
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