Chapter 3 Federalism

Three Systems of Government Unitary – strong central government; power flows down from center to units; most common Great Britain, Sweden, Japan, Egypt, Israel, the Philippines Confederal – strong state governments; power flows up from units to center; less common U.S. under Articles of Confederation (1776-1788), European Union Federal – power divided between central government and states; power flows both ways; less common U.S., Australia, Brazil, Canada, Germany, India

Figure 3-1: Flow of Power in Three Systems of Government, 46

America’s Governmental Units © 2004 Wadsworth Publishing / Thomson Learning™

Why Federalism? Practical Solution – compromise helped ensure ratification, resolve dispute between Federalist and Anti-Federalists, advocates of strong central government and weak central government (“states’ rights”) Geography and population – impractical to locate all political authority in one place, especially in large countries Brings government closer to people State governments train future national leaders State governments testing grounds for policy initiatives Allows for many political subcultures Provides regionally concentrated groups degree of autonomy

Why Not Federalism? Potential lack of coherence States can block national plans Inequalities across states in education, crime control, building safety, etc. Federal units can become basis for secessionist movements (especially regionally concentrated ethnonationalist movements) Confederacy in U.S.; Kurds in Iraq; Quebequois (French Candadians from Quebec) in Canada

National Government Powers Expressed – enumerated in Constitution (Article I, Section 8), pp. 364-5 Examples: lay and collect taxes, borrow, regulate commerce, coin money, set standards of weights and measures, declare war Implied – reasonably (inferred but not expressly stated) necessary to carry out powers expressly delegated Based in Article I, Section 8, Clause 18: “Necessary and Proper Clause,” a.k.a. “Elastic Clause,” 365 Inherent – national government sovereign state recognized by community of nations; grounded in international law Right to survival, defense, national interest, trade, make treaties, territorial integrity, self-determination, freedom from external intervention, just war, acquire territory

State Government Powers Reserved powers (10th Amendment, 372) intrastate commerce; state militia; police power (crime, contracts, marriage/divorce; education, traffic, land use, etc.); levy taxes Police power = authority to make laws for protection of health, morals, safety, and welfare of people Denied powers (Article I, Section 10, 365-6) treaties and coinage; duties and imposts; war