Political Science

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Federalism

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Confederal Government

 States act together through a central government for limited purposes, but retain ultimate authority and can veto actions of the central government (53)

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Confederal Government

STATE GOVERNMENT

STATE GOVERNMENT

STATE GOVERNMENT

CENTRAL GOVERNMENT

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Unitary Government

 The central government has ultimate authority and may create (and eliminate) state governments for its own purposes (53)

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Unitary Government

CENTRAL GOVERNMENT STATE

GOVERNMENT

STATE GOVERNMENT

STATE GOVERNMENT

STATE GOVERNMENT

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Federal Government

 Ultimate authority is divided between a central government and state governments, both of which may act independently in their respective spheres as well as sharing powers in other spheres (53)

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Federal Government

CENTRAL GOVERNMENT POWERS

SHARED POWERS

STATE GOVERNMENT POWERS

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Federalism under the

Constitution

 federal powers: coin money, regulate INTERstate commerce, wage war, etc.

 shared powers: raise taxes, charter corporations, borrow money, etc.

 state powers: conduct elections, regulate INTRAstate commerce, ratify constitutional amendments, etc.

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Eras of Federalism

 States’ rights(1789-1860): states dominant

 Dual federalism (1865-1930s): balance of power between states & federal government

 Cooperative federalism (1930s-1968): federal government dominant

 New federalism (1968-present): states recapture some power but federal government still dominates

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Advantages of Federalism

 states as laboratories

 flexibility for diverse needs

 increased access to government

 bases for opposition

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Disadvantages of Federalism

 lack of uniform protection of rights

 lack of popular control

 complexity: too many decisionmakers

 lack of accountability

 ruinous competition between states