•Single most persistent sources of political conflict has been relations between national & state governments

•Decentralize administrative burdens of governing

•Local units exist independent of the preferences of National Gov. & make some independent decisions

• Local governments can be altered or even abolished by the national government and cannot plausibly claim to have final authority over any significant government activities

•Protected by:•Constitution•Habits, preferences and dispositions of the citizens =TRADITION

•Pro - Federalism•Subnational governments set precedent

•Subnational governments have taken lead in protecting environment, etc.

•Reasonable chance of having a practical effect

•Widespread opportunities for political participation

•Condemns Federalism

•Prolonged slavery

•Increased political activity

•Decentralization of POWER

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•National government derives its powers from the states

•Articles of Confederation

•“the powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states respectively, or to the people

•Thomas Jefferson – State Government

•Alexander Hamilton – Federal Government

• “The powers delegated by the proposed Constitution to the federal government are few and defined. Those which are to remain in the State governments are numerous and indefinite” James Madison

•National Supremacy v. State Rights

•National Government is supreme

• National Supremacy confirmed by McCulloch v. Maryland

• Necessary and Proper Clause– Congress can pass all

laws that are necessary and proper to its duties

– Congress can exercise powers not specifically given to it

• States can declare “null and void” a federal law that the states’ believed violated Constitution

• Jefferson and Madison• States cannot do this

today

•National Government supreme in their sphere

•State Government supreme in their sphere

•KEPT SEPARATE•Commerce Clause

•Commerce Clause•Interstate v. Intrastate commerce

•Eleventh Amendment–Protects states from lawsuits by citizens of other states or foreign nations

•Police Power: state power to enact laws promoting health (vaccinations), safety (law enforcement), and morals.

•InitiativeInitiative:

process that permits voters to put legislative measures directly on the ballot

• DIRECT DEMOCRACY

• Signatures 5-15%

• Referendum:Referendum: voters reject measure passed by legislature

•RECALLRECALL: (20 : (20 states) voters states) voters remove elected remove elected official from officeofficial from office

•Money given by the National Government to the states

•Has continued to grow

•Washington pay bills state runs programs