2.1 Federalism - Learning Objectives and Chapter Summary

Federalism

Learning Objectives

1  Trace the roots of the federal system and the Constitution’s allocation of governmental powers 


2  Determine the impact of the Marshall Court on federalism 


3  Describe the emergence and decline of dual federalism 


4  Explain how cooperative federalism led to the growth of the national government 


5  Identify new trends in federalism 


6  Assess the challenges in balancing national and state powers and the consequences for 
policy making 


 

Chapter Summary

Roots of the Federal System and the Constitution’s allocation of governmental powers

The Framers worked to create a political system that was halfway between the failed confederation of the Articles of Confederation and the tyrannical unitary system of Great Britain. They established a system known as federalism, though that word does not appear anywhere in the Constitution. Federalism is based on the sovereignty of the people who delegate power to both the central and state governments. Such a system of shared powers had never before been tried. The national government and the state governments were to have certain powers in common and their own sets of officials and each government was to be supreme in some spheres. Since both levels of government would ultimately be responsible to the people, the electorate could shift its allegiance between levels of government, thus ensuring that no one level of government would become too powerful. It was a vertical separation of powers to establish a limitation on the power of government.

Federalism: a political system in which power is divided and shared between the national/central government and the states (subnational units) in order to limit the power of government (NOTE: local governments are creatures of the state and not part of the federal bargain).