How and why is federalism enshrined in the US Constitution?
How and why is federalism enshrined in the Constitution? (15 marks)
Federalism is the system of government in which power is dispersed between central and state governments, each level of government having different responsibilities.
Article four of the constitution is devoted to outlining the federal-state government relationship. Section one states that all states will honour all of the other states laws; this ensures that a marriage in Florida is also considered marriage in Arizona. Similarly, section two guarantees that citizens of one state are treated fairly and equally like all citizens of other states. For example, it enshrines that a person fleeing a crime from a state with certain punishments, shall be returned by another state if necessary. Moreover, the 10th amendment in the Bill of Rights reserves powers to the states and to the people that aren’t in the federal governments’ domain. Essentially meaning, powers not mentioned in the constitution that don’t deal with national issues are left for the states to decide on. A key example being policing and other local matters. British oppression had made the Founding Fathers fearful of unchecked centralized power. The Tenth Amendment was enacted to limit federal power.
The sheer size of the U.S. means that states such as Alaska have different cultures and demands compared to California. As a result, governing the enormity from Washington would be very difficult. This is why states have their own legislatures with significant responsibilities such as education, healthcare and judiciary procedure. The states are funded in part by the federal government which allows states to allocate their funding for the pressing issues in their region, which might not be an issue in a state. This enables a more democratic process as citizens elect officials on a state basis who are more understanding of local issues and ideas whilst also electing a President and Congress to look after the general welfare and security of
Federalism is the system of government in which power is dispersed between central and state governments, each level of government having different responsibilities.
Article four of the constitution is devoted to outlining the federal-state government relationship. Section one states that all states will honour all of the other states laws; this ensures that a marriage in Florida is also considered marriage in Arizona. Similarly, section two guarantees that citizens of one state are treated fairly and equally like all citizens of other states. For example, it enshrines that a person fleeing a crime from a state with certain punishments, shall be returned by another state if necessary. Moreover, the 10th amendment in the Bill of Rights reserves powers to the states and to the people that aren’t in the federal governments’ domain. Essentially meaning, powers not mentioned in the constitution that don’t deal with national issues are left for the states to decide on. A key example being policing and other local matters. British oppression had made the Founding Fathers fearful of unchecked centralized power. The Tenth Amendment was enacted to limit federal power.
The sheer size of the U.S. means that states such as Alaska have different cultures and demands compared to California. As a result, governing the enormity from Washington would be very difficult. This is why states have their own legislatures with significant responsibilities such as education, healthcare and judiciary procedure. The states are funded in part by the federal government which allows states to allocate their funding for the pressing issues in their region, which might not be an issue in a state. This enables a more democratic process as citizens elect officials on a state basis who are more understanding of local issues and ideas whilst also electing a President and Congress to look after the general welfare and security of