Federalism

• What is federalism?


  Division of power between a central government and state governments.
• Evidence of federalism being effective #1

  Each state has its own fully working government with 3 branches. A governor (executive), state Congress (legislature ) and supreme court. They can legislate on a wide variety of matters
• Evidence of federalism being effective #2

  States have the power to ratify amendments to the Constitution and so have the power to change the foundational document on which all US law is based
• Evidence of federalism being effective #3

  Protections, rights and some taxes are different in many states. For example, Oregon does not have a sales tax
• Evidence of federalism not being effective #1

  The powers given to the federal governments versus the states is the vaguest area of the constitution and over time the powers of the federal government have expanded significantly
• Evidence of federalism not being effective #2

  Most states do NOT have year-round legislatures, so do NOT have the ability to create law year-round compared to Congress
• Evidence of federalism not being effective #3

  Congress can issue mandates that the state governments have to follow