Essay Example on Federalism and State and Local Government

From you have researched, do you think that the national government has grown overtime? If so, how has it increased its authority?

I believe that one unique aspect of the United States government is its Constitution, which is built around the principle of power separation between the national and state governments. The Constitution is the Supreme law of the country and creates a good balance between the two forms of governments, which have different roles but serve the same interests of American citizens. While the Tenth Amendment of the American Constitution seems to be weakening the national government by granting power to the states and people, I opine that the American federal government has grown overtime and increased its authority (Pptx slide 14). For instance, a careful comparison of the executive powers of the national government and the state government shows a difference in power. The President, who serves as the head of the executive in the national government has more powers compared to his counterpart, the governor (Video Topic 3). The President has the power to veto a whole section of the law while a governor can only do on a given part.

How do other parts of the Constitution (14th Amendment, Full Faith and Credit Clause, Necessary and Proper Clause, etc.) inform the argument on how to interpret federalism in America?

I think that the United States Constitution is somehow self-contradictory. Arguably, it grants both the State government and national governments distinct powers. These powers allow both governments to rule within their areas of jurisdiction. However, in ensuring that these contradictions do not create problems in governance, the Constitution, which is the Supreme law in the land, offers a point of confluence. Under the 14th Amendment, the Constitution provides that all persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside (McKay 333). This particular provision ensures that no State government shall enforce or make laws that deprive citizens of their rights to life, liberty and/or properties without due process of the law (McKay 334). More so, the 14th Amendment serves as the basis of the Bill of Rights and hence a perfect argument for the interpretation of federalism and the powers within their jurisdiction.

Do you think that the national government should be this powerful, or should states have more power? What would you change, if anything, and why?

Based on the principle of power separation, I think that the national government should not be powerful as it is in its current form. This is because of the distinct and diverse needs of each state (Pptx slide 8). If I was asked to give a suggestion, all states should be granted more powers compared to the national government because of their ability to make laws that are specifically suited to their jurisdiction. Making the national government powerful than state government implies that state government will not have the autonomy they deserve as enshrined in the American Constitution.

Works Cited

McKay, David. American politics and society. John Wiley & Sons, 2017.Pptx nd, Topic 3 Federalism and Local Government

Video Topic 3 retrieved from:

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