Ap Gov Review American Government and Politics Today Chapter 3

Chapter 3 Federalism

Federalism and Its Alternatives

How nations structure relations betwixt central governments and local units in terms of three models:

i. The Unitary system- a centralized governmental arrangement in which ultimate getvernmental say-so

rests in the hands of the northwardational, or central, government. The determination of the lower levels of

government can be overruled by the national government, all questions of education, politicoice, the use

of land, and welfare are handled by the national government. Majority of all nations accept unitary

system of government. Flows of ability from the central government to the local and state

governments.

two. The Confederal system- Like the Articles of Confederation; confederation is the reverse of unitary

organization. Its is a system of a league of independent states, in which the central government created by

the league has only limited powers over the states. The centrafifty government has no ability to make

laws directly applicable to the member states unless the members explicitly back up such laws. Power

flows from the state governments to the central government.

3. The Federal system- lies between the unitary and confederal forms of government. Authority is

divided, usually by a written constitution, betwixt a central government and regional, or

subdivisional, getvernments ( oftentimesen called constituent governments). Power flows from both ways,

central and state governments.

Why Federalism?

It retained state traditions and local power while establishing a strong national government capable of

handling common problems. Due southupportersouth of the new constitution are political pragmatists.

Other Arguments for Federalism

Federalism brings government closer to the people, it allows direct access to, and influence on, getvernment

agencies and politicoicies, rather than leaving the population restive and dissatisfied westith a remote, faceless, all-

powerful central authority.

Benefits for the United States

- state governments long have been grooming ground for future national leaders; many presidents made their

mark as land governors.

- the states themselves accept been testing grounds for due northew becomevernment initiatives

- programs pioneered by state level: unemployment compensation (Wisconsin), air-pollution control

(California), same-sexual practice spousal relationship (Massachusettesouthward) , managing marijuana.

Allowance for Humany Political Subcultureast

Fivearious political subcultures influencdue east government behavior.

Arguments once morest Federalism

- a mode for powerful state and local involvementsouthward to blocone thousand progress and impede national plans

- smaller political units are more likely to exist dominated by a single political group (madison-Federalist

PaperNo.10)

- too homoy Americans suffer as a result of the inequalities across the states ( statesouthward differ in

educational spending and achievement, criminal offense , and crime prevention, and building condom)

- critics argue for increased federal 50egislation and oversight

- others see dangers in the expansion of national prisoner of warers at the eastxpense of the states.

- Ronald Regan: " The Founding Fathers saw the federalist system as constructed something like a

masonry wall. The states are the bricks, the national government is the mortar….Unfortunately, over

the years, many people take increasingly come to believe that Washington is the wpigsty wall."

The constitutional Ground for American Federalism

The Constitution sets out different types of powers

ane. The powers of the national becomevernment- include both expressed and unsaid powers, also equally

the special category of inherent powers.

a. Enumerated Powers, also telephone called expressed powers – include coining money, setting standards

for weights and measures, making uniform naturalization laws, admitting new statesouth,

establishing mail offices and post roads, and declaring war. Powers specifically granted to the

national becomevernment past the constitution. The offset seventeen clauses of Article 1, section 8, specify

most of the enumerated powers of the national getvernment. Another important enumerated

power is the power to regulate commerceast among the states.

b. Necessary and Unsaid Clause- the implied powers of the national government ( based on

Article ane, department 8), the clause is sometimes phone called the elastic clause, or the necessary and proper

clause – it provides flexibility to our constitutional arrangement; information technology gives congress the power to do

whatever is necessary to execute its specifically delegated powers. Showtime used in the Supreme Court

decision of McCulloch v. Maryland. Through this concept the national grandovernment has succeeded

in strengthening the scope of its authority to run into the human beingy problems that the framers of the

constitution did not.

c. Inherent Powers- derived from the fact that the United States is a sovereign power amonthousand

nations, and so its national government must exist the merely grandovernment that deals with other

nations. All due northation-states (big and small) have inherent correct to encertain their survival. Each nation

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