Who should control? State or Federal Government?
This lesson’s topic of discussion is federalism. The framers wanted to create a government that was neither too weak nor too strong. Thus, they instituted the concept of federalism, which is the balancing or sharing of power between the national (i.e., federal) and state governments. With federalism, there are state laws and federal laws that may conflict. Also, the diversity of state laws and procedures creates situations that may seem unfair to many citizens. For example, you may not need a permit for a gun in one state but may in another, be able to smoke marijuana recreationally or not depending on the state, or some state legislatures may invest more in public education, infrastructure, or healthcare than others.
The Question(s):
1. Define federalism.
2. Why is federalism an important concept for citizens to understand?
3. Are there areas (pick a minimum of 2 topics) which you believe the federal or state government should be more powerful? For example, should federal officials exercise more power to require greater uniformity in policy among the states? Should the areas of health care, education, border security, voting, law enforcement in cities or other such topics be in the hands of the federal or state governments? Why or why not?
4. Explain how two states differ in one of the topics.
Sample Solution
- Define federalism.
Federalism is a system of government in which power is divided between a central government and regional governments. The central government has certain powers that are supreme, while the regional governments have other powers that are supreme. This system of government is designed to balance the power of the central government with the power of the regional governments.
- Why is federalism an important concept for citizens to understand?
Federalism is an important concept for citizens to understand because it affects the way that they are governed. Citizens need to understand the powers that the central government has and the powers that the regional governments have. They also need to understand how the two levels of government interact with each other.
- Are there areas (pick a minimum of 2 topics) which you believe the federal or state government should be more powerful?
There are a number of areas where I believe the federal government should be more powerful. These include:
- National security: The federal government should have the primary responsibility for national security. This includes things like protecting the borders, fighting terrorism, and responding to natural disasters.
- Economic regulation: The federal government should have the primary responsibility for economic regulation. This includes things like regulating the banking industry, the securities industry, and the telecommunications industry.
- Civil rights: The federal government should have the primary responsibility for protecting civil rights. This includes things like ensuring that all citizens have equal protection under the law and that they are not discriminated against on the basis of race, religion, gender, or sexual orientation.
I believe that the state government should be more powerful in the following areas:
- Education: The state government should have the primary responsibility for education. This includes things like setting standards for education, funding schools, and hiring teachers.
- Healthcare: The state government should have a greater role in healthcare. This includes things like expanding Medicaid, regulating insurance companies, and providing subsidies for low-income individuals.
I believe that these are just a few of the areas where the federal or state government should be more powerful. There are many other areas where the balance of power between the two levels of government could be adjusted.
- Explain how two states differ in one of the topics.
One topic where two states differ is in the regulation of guns. In California, it is illegal to own an assault weapon or a high-capacity magazine. In Texas, there are no such restrictions on gun ownership. This difference in gun laws has led to different outcomes in the two states. For example, California has a lower rate of gun violence than Texas.
Another topic where two states differ is in the legalization of marijuana. In Colorado, marijuana is legal for recreational use. In Utah, marijuana is illegal for any purpose. This difference in marijuana laws has led to different outcomes in the two states. For example, Colorado has seen an increase in tax revenue from marijuana sales, while Utah has not.
These are just two examples of how two states can differ in the way that they govern their citizens. The balance of power between the federal government and the state governments is constantly evolving, and it is important for citizens to understand how this balance affects them.