Federal System: Advantages and Disadvantages

Introduction

• Federalism involves dividing power between federal, state, and local governments.
• Various advantages and disadvantages exist within this system.

Advantages of Federalism

Increased Political Participation

• Multiple levels for political engagement: local, state, and federal.
• More opportunities for individuals to influence policy.
• Greater political power at the local level compares to the national level.

State-Specific Policies

• States can create policies unique to their needs.
  • Example: Florida's hurricane policies vs Colorado's snowstorm policies.
• Allows for policy-making in cases of no national consensus.
  • Example: Abortion rights differ by state following Supreme Court decisions.

Uniform Federal Policies

• When necessary, the federal government can implement uniform policies across the nation.
  • Important for foreign policy and national concerns.

Laboratories of Democracy

• States can experiment with social and economic policies.
• Example: Marijuana legalization started in Colorado and Washington.
  • Demonstrates states as experimental sites before wider adoption.

Disadvantages of Federalism

Difficulty in Implementing Unified Policies

• Challenge in creating uniform policies, like in education, across different states.

States' Rights and Discrimination

• Historically, states' rights have been used to perpetuate discrimination.
• Madison's Federalist No. 10 argument: Minority rights are better protected in a larger republic.
• Critics argue states' rights intent is to avoid federal policies protecting minorities.

States' Rights Defined

• 10th Amendment: Non-delegated powers reserved to the states.
• Belief that most issues should be handled at the state level.
• New Federalism: Movement to return responsibilities to states.
  • Emerged under Nixon, expanded under Reagan.

Devolution

• Concept of transferring power back to states from the federal government.
• Federal government perceived as overreaching its constitutional powers.

Conclusion

• Over the last 200 years, the federal government has gained strength, while states' power has diminished.

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• End of Unit One: Encourages review and preparation for upcoming tests.
• Provides resources for further study and review.

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• Closing Remarks: Encourage engagement with content through likes, subscriptions, etc.