Federal vs. State Policy Comparison

Historical documents such as the Constitution were carefully written by our ancestors to guideline the development of our current government. Currently the government operates under a dual system to allow a more balanced manner in extending the phrase” for the people, by the people.” Thus, this dual system allows each state a portion of authority and power in governing the residents of that state while allowing the Federal government the means of governing and providing a means to balance fairness with the state’s ruling. The establishment of a dual system ultimately requires both state and Federal government to corporate in implementing polices. However, an examination of both the similarities and differences of the state and Federal government is necessary to thoroughly understand how the dual system operates.

The State and Federal governments share many similarities. Each has authority in exclusive powers. Under these powers, both the state and Federal governments have courts, create and collect taxes, build highways, borrow money, make and enforce laws, charter banks and corporations, provide funding that betters general welfare, and take private property for just compensation (Longley, 2011 a). Each also is its own Constitution or rules that guide them in regulation. They also have similar structures of operation. Finally, each shares the means of allowing society to vote representatives in office; although the voting process slightly differs for each.

Although the state and Federal government shares similarities, they differ in many ways. The Federal court is governed by the Constitution whereas states create their own state constitution and operate under past rulings of the court. State government is restricted in j...

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...Office of the U.S. Courts. (nd.). Comparing Federal and State Courts. Retrieved from http://www.uscourts.gov/EducationalResources/FederalCourtBasics/CourtStructure/Com paringFederalAndStateCourts.aspx

Longley, R. (2011a). Federalism: National vs. State Government. Retrieved from http://usgovinfo.about.com/od/rightsandfreedoms/a/federalism.htm

Longley, R. (2011b). Federal Regulations the Laws behind the Acts of Congress. Retrieved from http://usgovinfo.about.com/od/uscongress/a/fedregulations.htm

Marion, N.E., & Oliver, W.M. (2006). The Public Policy of Crime and Criminal Justice. Retrieved from The University of Phoenix eBook Collection database.

National Center for Postsecondary Improvement. (2003). Origins and Stages of State Assessment . Retrieved from http://www.stanford.edu/group/ncpi/unspecified/assessment_states/policyDevelopment.html