Info...
- Federalism gives the executive its power but it also gives states power as announced in Dillon's Law
- Federalism is a system of government in which a written constitution divides power between a central government and regional or sub-divisional governments, both type of governments act directly onto the people through their officials and laws.
- Both types of government are supreme within their authority and both have to agree to any changes in constitution.
- A national government governs issues that affect the entire country, and smaller subdivisions govern issues of local concern
Fun Facts...
- Any action by the federal government must fall within one of the powers listed in the Constitution.
- Our power-sharing form of government is the opposite of "centralized" governments, such as those in England and France, under which national government obtains total power
- Bringing the states together in a federal system resulted with controversy
- The Framers of the Constitution created a federal system with a national government strong enough to unite the states in their action of common goals without robbing the states of their independence
Real Life Examples...
- Gay Marriage. It's a state issue, not a federal one. Each state has the right to determine for itself if gay marriage will be recognized in that state.
- The way the Constitution is amended. Congress presents the idea and the state ratifies it. Congress can't by itself amend the Constitution. It needs to work with the state.