Federalism

What Is Federalism? It is a way of organizing a nation so-that two or more levels of government have formal authority over the same- area and people. Most governments today are not federal but unitary governments in which all power resides in the central government.

Types of Government 1. Federal 2. State 3. Local

Why federalism is important The federal system decentralizes our politics by: 1. Creating more possibilities for political participation. 2. More points of access in government and more opportunities for interests to have their demands for public policies satisfied. 3. With more decisions made in the states, there are fewer sources of conflict at the national level.

Federalism and Democracy Did the founders make the right move in creating a federal system?

Advantages for Democracy: 1. More opportunities for participation in politics. 2. Increased access to government. 3. Allows an economic interest concentrated in a state to exercise substantial influence in the election of officials, from that state. 4. Diversity of opinion within the country can be reflected in different public policies in the states (i.e. Texans can vote for the death penalty, Wisconsin can abolish it). . 5. Reduces decision-making and conflict at the national level.

Disadvantages for Democracy: 1. States differ on resources they can devote to services such as education (i.e. CA - $4,608 per student vs. NJ -.$9,712. Stat Ab. of US, 1994). 2. States with generous welfare benefits attract people from states with lower benefits. 3. Local interests can thwart national majority support of certain policies (i.e. segregation in the South in the 1960's). 4. Sheer number of governments (now counted at 86,743) can be as much a burden as a boon to democracy