Forms of Government: Federalism

Federalism is a form of government that divides power between central government and states government. Federalism allows states to be independent in their own policy making while also integrated within the federal system. This system allows the states to regulate their own issues while also staying connected through the federal system. Federalism is one of the most important and innovative concepts in the United States Constitution, although the word never appears there. In America, the states existed first, and they struggled to create a national government. Confideracy had been tried by the thirteen states under the Articles of confederation, and was found to be lacking, in that it did not provide adequate cohesiveness between the individual nation-states. The Articles of confederation establish a government but, limit the powers of the central government. This was a crucial flaw with the Articles of confederation, the central government had no power of national taxation, no power to control trade, and it provided for a comparatively weak executive. Therefore it could not enforce legislation or make states honor national obligations. Even before the constitution was ratified, strong argument were made by Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, and James Madison in the federalist papers urging the inclusion of a federal form of government to replace the failed confederation. The people of the United States needed a central government that was capable of holding certain powers over the states. The founders were looking for a system that would provide them with cohesiveness between the individual states and the national government. The initial widespread loyalty to the state governments prevented the founders from wanting a uni...

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...overnment while still having a strong federal government. The “Original Intent” of the founding fathers were to design a model of federal government to protect, preserve and promote the new union of sovereign states while being limited in its authorities in order to preserve the basic rights of the individual states, and the American people. Federalism is a direct parallel of the U.S constitution. Federalism is the sharing of power between national and state government this is clearly stated in the constitution with the checks, and balances between the three branches of government; executive, judicial, legislative and the congressional branches. The founding fathers ideas on government held true than and still holds true 200 years later in our current government. Federalism can be seen as the cornerstone of liberty and constitutional structure of America.