Quiz 1 - POLS 301 (Federalism and Political Cultures)

Three systems of government and how they divide power

Unitary system: regional and/or local governments
- only exercise powers and responsibility granted by the central government (governments not sovereign) Central government grant powers to the regional government
EX: Voters to central government to regional governments

Confederal System: Independent states or governments grant legal authority to Central government.
EX: Voter to independent governments to central government

Federal System: Responsibilities and powers are divided between central government and regional governments or states; neither level is dependent upon the other for its power.
EX: Voters to central government and regional governments

Explain federalism and why it was chosen as a system for the United States

The framers of the Constitution rejected the possibility of a confederacy, and the national government was so weak under the Articles of Confederation that James Madison and George Washington feared the failure of the independent republic.

Divided government into three branches, legislative, executive, and judicial (each reliant on the others to carry out responsibilities

Advantages and disadvantages of Federalism

Advantages: Allows for flexibility, reduces conflict because states can accommodate citizens' interests, allows for experimentation at the state level, enables the achievement of national goals

Disadvantages: increases complexity and confusion, sometimes increases conflict when jurisdictional lines are unclear, duplicates efforts and reduces accountability, makes coordination difficult, creates inequality in services and policies

Elements in the U.S. Constitutions provide a basis for federalism

Constitution grants federal government enumerated and implied powers

Enumerated powers: grants of authority given by the Constitution

Implied powers: Authors of constitution realized they cannot list every specific power that the national government would require to meet the needs of a developing nation. Gave congress flexibility to meet unforeseen challenges granting the federal government a set of BROAD and Largely undefined powers

Summarize the different types of federalism that developed over time

Dual federalism: State and federal governments have separate jurisdictions and responsibilities - each level of government is sovereign and free to operate without interference from the other - Layer cake (Federal, State, Local)

Cooperative Federalism: (Marble cake) - flexible relationship between the federal and state governments in which both work together on a variety of issues and programs

Centralized federalism: both executive and legislative power is concentrated centrally at the higher level as opposed to it being more distributed at various lower level governments

New Federalism: transfer of certain powers from the United States federal government back to the states

Ad Hoc Federalism: Only used when convenient for one of the parties involved - process of adopting a state centered or nation-centered view of federalism on the basis of political ideology

Discuss the Supreme Court's role in the U.S. federalism

Ensures that each branch of government recognizes the limits of its own power

Ways state and local governments can affect daily life

Provide many of the public services that directly affect people's day-to-day lives

How the comparative method can help explain differences between states

Analyzes the relationship between variables that are different or similar to one another

Basic differences that occur among state and localities

Local governments include counties, municipalities or cities/towns

State government are modeled after executive, legislative and judicial

Importance of state and local government within wider context of American government

Allows for powers not granted to the Federal government to be reserved for states and the people (state and local)

How and Why Has Federalism Changed Overtime?

Divisions of powers between nation, state and local governments in the early years of the republic to greater intermingling and cooperation as well as conflict and competition