Federalism
Federalism: A federal system divides power between a central government and smaller, local governments. This sharing of power is intended to ensure that the central government is powerful enough to be effective, yet not so powerful as to threaten States or citizens. It also allows individual States to deal with local problems at the local level- so long as their actions are constitutional.
Examples of how Federalism is applied today
- Local, state and federal Law enforcement
- Local State and federal court systems
- Laws are passed based on the needs of the state
Examples of Federalism has been applied over time?
Albany plan (1754)
- Delegates where set from each colony
Stamp Act Congress (1765)
- Made "committees of correspondence"
- States sent delegates to communities of correspondence to represent them
Virgina Plan (1787)
- Congress also had the power to legislate matters that the state can’t handle
- The goal was a creation of a national government
- Government could use force to makes states obey national law
- Congress would have power to admit new states into the union
- National and federal courts
- House to be elected by each state
- Senate would be appointed by the house
- Representation in each house would be based on population