1. Bell Ringer
Study for RQ #6!!!

2. Introducing:
Federalism

3. Federalism Defined
Power is distributed between central government and subdivisional governments
United States: National Government vs State governments
National and subdivisional governments both exercise direct authority over individuals
Examples:
United States (duh)
Canada
Australia
Mexico

4. Systems of Government
Unitary
Confederations
Concentrates all policymaking power in ONE central geographic place
Examples:
France
Britain
China
Spreads the power among many sub-units
Examples:
Articles of Confederation
Confederate States of America
European Union

5. Why federalism? Unitary and Confederate systems undesirable
Unitary: too similar of British rule
Confederate: too similar of the Articles of Confederation

6. Reasons for federal system in U.S.
Allows unity, but not uniformity
Geographically large nation
More suitable for heterogeneous people
More likely to check tyranny
National issues – national governments
State issues – state governments
Encourages experimentation -- states as "laboratories”
More ways for public participation
Allows differences among the states – What are differences between Idaho and New York?
Travelling from Hawaii to Maine or Population sizes: Wyoming approx. 590,000 vs California approx million
Diverse groups across the country – think of democrats and republicans, minority groups
States get out of hand the federal government could check
National government focus on national issues – immigration, healthcare, national security, trade (powers described in the Constitution)
States can handle local issues that the federal government may not need to be involved in – property, education, local governments
States can experiment with policies – Massachusetts implemented policy like the affordable care act (while not perfectly exact used as a guideline)
Able to participate at a greater level at the state, local levels

7. Constitution USA – Peter Sagal
What did the Founding Fathers have in mind when they created a shared power system?
How could the Commerce Clause of the Constitution apply to medical marijuana?
Start to 8:30

8. Take a Stand! Direction-- Read through the eight issues below
Determine whether you believe the state or national government should have power of the issue
Explain WHY you believe this
Be ready to share your views!

9. Break Down
Why do you think the topic of states rights vs national government power is so controversial? Explain! What do you think the Founders would think about the current level of power of states and of the national government? Explain!