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Landon Stutt
GOVT 327: State and Local government
Heather Piedmont
September 4th, 2022
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Some people think that the Federal Government has all the power. But have you ever asked
yourself, who does have all the power and how is this power divided within our nation? Federalism is the
division of power between the national and state authority. This division and balance are vital because it
ensures that each branch of Government does not have the majority of the power. The branches of
Government are all equally balanced, and they are checked, ensuring that they do not have all the power.
With these powers comes great responsibility, especially being a world power. Most countries look up to
how we govern and rely on us for certain things. Therefore, most decisions we make need to be the right
ones and not just one person making sure that the decisions are correct and beneficial.
The federal government and distribution of power
Where does the power come from?
In the Federal Government, the power comes from three branches of Government, the
Legislative, Judicial, and Executive. The Legislative branch consists of the Congress, Senate, and House
of Representatives; furthermore, the Legislative branch is where congress creates and discusses potential
bills. The president of the Senate is the vice president of the United States maintaing the level of
communication between the powers (Congress section 31). The executive branch is where the proposed
bills are passed, to determine if it should become a law. The President is the one who oversees this branch
of Government to ensure that a motion is passed. The Judicial branch is the part of the Government that
then interprets the law and makes sure that those laws are being upheld.
How the Federal Government is laid out
It is a common misconception that the Federal Government maintains all power and control of the
country. The way that the power is divided is a part of an intricate well-planned system crafted by the
founders. While over the years the parties and power have been realigned to focus on different worldly
views that separate this Nation from the next, the layout has remained relatively the same. In the United
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States the power is divided by the different branches of the government; the Legislative, Executive and
Judicial. These three branches work together fluidly to maintain order between all 50 states.
How and why was the power disrupted?
When the United States was developing itself into the nation it was today; the constitution was
first written and signed in 1787. The main goal of the Constitution was to provide a guideline for how
political power was intended to be divided. From this, the Government was divided into 2 parts, the state,
and the nation. The combined power of the two divisions After the creation of the Constitutions, America
was the first modern constitutional liberal democratic. This means that “the authority of the majority it
limited by legal and intuitional means so that the rights of individuals are respected” (Quigley). Having
the power separated and balanced ensures that no one tries to overpower the other. Psalms 66:7
demonstrates how those in power are watchers and do not let those who try to go against them win.
Specifically Psalms 66:7 “He rules forever by his power, his eyes watch the nations let not the rebellious
rise up against him.” There is also a balance between our national government and our state government
meaning that our national and federal side does not have all the power within the 50 states.
Was the disruption of power necessary?
The divide in powers is what helps ensure that all parties remain in check, having the power
divided means that no one source can completely overrule the other. Originally when the constitution was
created there was a clause that was put forth that said that the constitution would be above both state and
federal. This was added because it could only have been assumed that the two divisions of power would
face conflicts in the future as the nation continued to grow. The distribution of power within the
Government is important and was necessary because it ensured that all parties had a voice and could
debate their disagreements.
What is the proper role of the Federal Government
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The proper role of the government is to make sure that they have the citizens of the
United States best interest in mind. Specifically, when determining if what they are doing will be
more beneficial than hurtful to the greater people. For Example, a couple of weeks ago, counties
in Kentucky were devastated with heavy flooding to a point where homes were underwater, cars
were submerged, and things people have worked so hard for were taken away. When natural
disasters or anything that devastates a majority of a place or has a major impact on a state it is the
Governors job to declare a State of Emergency. This declaration announces to the Executive
branch that they need funds to help the well-being and safety of its people. These funds for this
flood in Kentucky would go towards sending the National Guard, buying food, and providing
shelter for those who are in desperate need. The only one that can release these funds or approve
them is the President. This is a prime example of checks and balances because it shows that State
Governments do not have all the power in their state, especially when considering giving
financial help. Another example of the proper role of the Government is when there is a vacant
seat on the Supreme Court. When there is a vacant seat on the Supreme Court, the president
nominates a judge of his choosing to become a nominee for becoming a justice. When they are
nominated, they become questioned by the senate which is in a different branch of the
Government, and they make sure that this nominee would be a good fit within the supreme court.
The only way to become a supreme court justice is if you are confirmed by the senate in simple
terms.
The original separation of power was based on the following of the Constitution. As the
nation grew into the. Power was additionally distributed into three branches of government, the
Legislative, Executive, and Judicial branch of Government. The three branches worked together
to maintain order within the nation. The federal government also works with the state authorities
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to ensure that each state has a representative to get their voice heard equally among the fifty
states.
References
Libretexts. (2021, September 14). 5: The Constitution. Business LibreTexts. Retrieved September 4, 2022,
from https://biz.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Law/Fundamentals_of_Business_Law_
%28Randall_et_al.%29/05%3A_The_Constitution
Quigley, C. N. (n.d.). Constitutional democracy. Home. Retrieved September 4, 2022, from
https://www.civiced.org/lesson-plans/constitutional-democracy
66 Psalm 7 NIV
Biblhttps://www.biblegateway.com/passage/search=psalm+66%3A7&version=NIVe
Gateway,
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