federalism advantages and disadvantages essay

Federalism Advantages and Disadvantages Essay

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This paper discusses the advantages and disadvantages of a federal system of government. It is thus divided into an introduction, advantages, disadvantages and finally, a reference list.

Introduction

Federalism is a political philosophy where a number of parties are conjugated together by an agreement (Pierre, 2003). Federalism is a type of public administration system where power is allocated between a national or central government and constituent or provincial political units. Both governments derive their powers from a constitution. A federal government can either be centralized where the central government has broad powers compared to state or provincial powers, or a decentralized one where the scope of authority for the provincial government is comprehensive.

A federal system has a greater scope for diversity and experimentation. Some states are more advanced than others, and this offers a platform for the federal government to experiment different social policies that can later be adopted. It allows development for unique and innovative methods of eliminating social, economic and political problems (Shafritz et al., 2008). A good example is Australia where Victoria State was the first to introduce compulsory wearing of seatbelts, and Queensland State which introduced a very innovative hospital management system.

Uniform currency system is easy to create and manage. Common currency saves minting and production cost through utilization of a common central bank. Uniform currency stimulates economic growth since it favors ease of trade. Trade increases since as a result of elimination of exchange rates that keep changing from time to time. Incase one state experiences some economic hardships, the effects are absorbed by the rest of the states, and this is advantageous since its currency value would have decreased significantly if it had a different currency. A good example is that of Canadian states, where they trade more with each other than with the United States (Shafritz et al., 2008).

A federal system must consider the different ethnic or cultural groups. Federal system allows people to differ from one another but is united by common goals and benefits. It must protect the minority and special groups. Different groups are allowed to maintain their cultural diversity and individuality, for instance Massachusetts did not have to adopt the ways of South Carolina and vice versa. A good example was constitution enactment in Nigeria that forbids any form of discrimination against a particular ethnic tribe, religion and political opinion.

Disadvantages

Individual states lose their identity to a degree under the title of United States. In some cases, individual states have to wait for the approval of their legislative statutes from the federal government there by, compromising their independence. A good example was in Canada where Nova Scotia and New Brunswick provinces had strong identities but had to loose them for the sake of Canadian federal government (Pierre, 2003).

Local interests are sometimes sacrificed on the altar of federalism. When federal government has more powers, local interests have no priority over national interest. An example where local interest was compromised was in the formation of Canadian federalism, where Quebec province was unwilling to join the central government due to their minority but had to compromise (Pierre, 2003).

Rebellion against authority is a constant threat although this is counter balanced with a strong federal military. The state is in charge of matters that affect the nation as a whole such as national security. In health and education, rebellion may arise if it doesn’t consider local concern as national concerns. Rebellion may arise when a state feels neglected or not protected. Tension may arise when funds are allocated unfairly among states on various projects. A good example was the 1788-1787 Shays’ armed rebellion in central and western Massachusetts where farmers were protesting against the federal government for improper dealing in debt administration (Khan, 2008)

Khan, H. A. (2008). Introduction to Public Administration New York: University Press of America.

Pierre, J. (2003). Handbook of Public Administration . New York: Sage publications.

Shafritz, J., Russel, E. W. and Borick, C. (2008). Introducing public administration . (Ed) London: Longman.

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• Chicago (A-D)
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Advantages and Disadvantages of Federalism

Federalism is a system that presupposes the division of political power between state and federal governments. Like any other political system, it has both advantages and disadvantages. In some instances, there is a thin line between what is considered a benefit of the system and what is considered a drawback when it comes to the discussion of federalism. This essay will examine the advantages and disadvantages of federalism as a political system.

There are several advantages of federalism that can be discussed for this essay. The main advantage of federalism is the dispersion of political power. In federalism, power is divided between state and federal governments, making it challenging to monopolize the said power. For one political party or an individual to completely take over a country, it would require achieving an undisputed majority in all states. Even if this majority is reached, federalism prevents monopolization as passing any bill that can significantly impact the country requires the majority of voters to support it. Federalism effectively diffuses power, making it impossible for any political party to exploit it.

It can also be argued that federalism, as a political system, is more reactive to citizens’ needs. Residents of different states do not always have the same political preferences, and their economic needs differ depending on the state’s economy. For instance, states with the economy dependent on agriculture require different policies and regulations than those with a service-based economy. On the national level, it is impossible to cater to every state’s economic needs by a blanket policy, and it is easier to devolve certain powers to the state authorities. Moreover, in federalism, local governments can respond quickly to the needs of citizens who found themselves in a difficult situation without the earlier approval of the state and federal authorities. It should also be noted that the response time to citizens’ requests is much quicker on the local and state levels than on the federal level.

Another advantage stemming from the state governments being more responsive to their citizens’ needs is increased political participation. The unitary system often prevents citizens’ requests being answered, and it can lead to inevitable fatigue with politics. People are not likely to engage in a system that does not respond to their needs and does not support them. Thus, by being highly responsive to the public’s demands, federalism promotes political participation from it.

There are also certain disadvantages of federalism that need to be examined. One of the significant drawbacks of the system is the unavoidable division between national and state governments. Historically, it happened on numerous occasions, including during the Civil War. State authorities can disagree with a regulation passed by the national government and nullify it or challenge it in court, preventing the law from being implemented within the state’s borders. If the state and federal authorities cannot agree on an issue, it will inevitably affect the state’s citizens.

Furthermore, this can lead to certain undemocratic practices being reinforced by the government. Local and state governments can pass laws deemed undemocratic by other states and the federal government. However, overruling it will take time and can lead to further conflict between the divided authorities. Finally, federalism is a democratic system, and it protects the choice of the majority. This can put the minority of voters at a severe disadvantage if the state does not consider their rights and needs vital and does not consider protecting them.

Overall, federalism is a political system with both advantages and disadvantages. It can prevent the country’s political power from being monopolized and is more responsive to the citizens’ needs, evoking increased political participation from them. It has certain drawbacks, including the separation between state and federal authorities, possible support of undemocratic practices, and limited support of minorities. Nevertheless, the careful balance between state and federal governments can result in a stable political situation.

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3.5 Advantages and Disadvantages of Federalism

Learning objectives.

By the end of this section, you will be able to:

• Discuss the advantages of federalism
• Explain the disadvantages of federalism

The federal design of our Constitution has had a profound effect on U.S. politics. Several positive and negative attributes of federalism have manifested themselves in the U.S. political system.

THE BENEFITS OF FEDERALISM

Among the merits of federalism are that it promotes policy innovation and political participation and accommodates diversity of opinion. On the subject of policy innovation, Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis observed in 1932 that “a single courageous state may, if its citizens choose, serve as a laboratory; and try novel social and economic experiments without risk to the rest of the country.” 70 What Brandeis meant was that states could harness their constitutional authority to engage in policy innovations that might eventually be diffused to other states and at the national level. For example, a number of New Deal breakthroughs, such as child labor laws, were inspired by state policies. Prior to the passage of the Nineteenth Amendment , women already had the right to vote in several states. California has led the way in establishing standards for fuel emissions and other environmental policies ( Figure 3.18 ). Recently, the health insurance exchanges run by Connecticut, Kentucky, Rhode Island, and Washington have served as models for other states seeking to improve the performance of their exchanges. 71

Another advantage of federalism is that because our federal system creates two levels of government with the capacity to take action, failure to attain a desired policy goal at one level can be offset by successfully securing the support of elected representatives at another level. Thus, individuals, groups, and social movements are encouraged to actively participate and help shape public policy.

Get Connected!

Federalism and political office.

Thinking of running for elected office? Well, you have several options. As Table 3.1 shows, there are a total of 510,682 elected offices at the federal, state, and local levels. Elected representatives in municipal and township governments account for a little more than half the total number of elected officials in the United States. Political careers rarely start at the national level. In fact, a very small share of politicians at the subnational level transition to the national stage as representatives, senators, vice presidents, or presidents.

If you are interested in serving the public as an elected official, there are more opportunities to do so at the local and state levels than at the national level. As an added incentive for setting your sights at the subnational stage, consider the following. Whereas only 35 percent of U.S. adults trusted Congress in 2018, according to Gallup, about 63 percent trusted their state governments and 72 percent had confidence in their local governments. 74 , 75

If you ran for public office, what problems would you most want to solve? What level of government would best enable you to solve them, and why?

The system of checks and balances in our political system often prevents the federal government from imposing uniform policies across the country. As a result, states and local communities have the latitude to address policy issues based on the specific needs and interests of their citizens. The diversity of public viewpoints across states is manifested by differences in the way states handle access to abortion, distribution of alcohol, gun control, and social welfare benefits, for example.

THE DRAWBACKS OF FEDERALISM

Federalism also comes with drawbacks. Chief among them are economic disparities across states, race-to-the-bottom dynamics (i.e., states compete to attract business by lowering taxes and regulations), and the difficulty of taking action on issues of national importance.

Stark economic differences across states have a profound effect on the well-being of citizens. For example, in 2017, Maryland had the highest median household income ($80,776), while West Virginia had the lowest ($43,469). 76 There are also huge disparities in school funding across states. In 2016, New York spent $22,366 per student for elementary and secondary education, while Utah spent $6,953. 77 Furthermore, health-care access, costs, and quality vary greatly across states. 78 Proponents of social justice contend that federalism has tended to obstruct national efforts to effectively even out these disparities. When national policy-making is stymied, and policy advocates move to the state level, it takes fifty-one different advocacy efforts to bring about change, compared to one effort were the national government to take the lead.

Link to Learning

The National Education Association discusses the problem of inequality in the educational system of the United States. Visit the Racial & Social Justice page of the NEA website to see how NEA EdJustice is advocating for change in this area.

The economic strategy of using race-to-the-bottom tactics in order to compete with other states in attracting new business growth also carries a social cost. For example, workers’ safety and pay can suffer as workplace regulations are lifted, and the reduction in payroll taxes for employers has led a number of states to end up with underfunded unemployment insurance programs. 79 As of March 2021, twelve states have also opted not to expand Medicaid, as encouraged by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act in 2010, for fear it will raise state public spending and increase employers’ cost of employee benefits, despite provisions that the federal government will pick up nearly all cost of the expansion. 80 , 81 More than half of these states are in the South.

The federal design of our Constitution and the system of checks and balances has jeopardized or outright blocked federal responses to important national issues. President Roosevelt’s efforts to combat the scourge of the Great Depression were initially struck down by the Supreme Court. More recently, President Obama’s effort to make health insurance accessible to more Americans under the Affordable Care Act immediately ran into legal challenges 82 from some states, but it has been supported by the Supreme Court so far. However, the federal government’s ability to defend the voting rights of citizens suffered a major setback when the Supreme Court in 2013 struck down a key provision of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 . 83 No longer are the nine states with histories of racial discrimination in their voting processes required to submit plans for changes to the federal government for approval. After a tumultuous 2020 election, many states in 2021 advanced legislation to make voting rules and processes more rigorous, a move many said was an effort to limit voting access. For example, elected leaders in Georgia passed a law making voter ID requirements much stricter and also significantly limited options to vote outside of Election Day itself. 84 In 2023's Moore v. Harper , the Supreme Court affirmed that state legislatures were not able to pass these laws with complete autonomy. Rejecting the theory of "independent state legislature," which asserted that states had the sole power to pass election laws, the Court ruled that voting laws passed by state governments were subject to judicial review. In 2023, the Court also ruled in favor of a challenge—already upheld by district courts—to new voting maps drawn up in Alabama; the plaintiffs had asserted that the new maps violated the Voting Rights Act by diluting the votes of Black voters. The Court agreed, and in the process held that the Voting Rights Act remained constitutional with regard to redistricting. 85

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13 Advantages and Disadvantages of Federalism

Learning objectives.

By the end of this section, you will be able to:

• Discuss the advantages of federalism
• Explain the disadvantages of federalism

The federal design of our Constitution has had a profound effect on U.S. politics. Several positive and negative attributes of federalism have manifested themselves in the U.S. political system.

THE BENEFITS OF FEDERALISM

Among the merits of federalism are that it promotes policy innovation and political participation and accommodates diversity of opinion. On the subject of policy innovation, Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis observed in 1932 that “a single courageous state may, if its citizens choose, serve as a laboratory; and try novel social and economic experiments without risk to the rest of the country.” 70 What Brandeis meant was that states could harness their constitutional authority to engage in policy innovations that might eventually be diffused to other states and at the national level. For example, a number of New Deal breakthroughs, such as child labor laws, were inspired by state policies. Prior to the passage of the Nineteenth Amendment , women already had the right to vote in several states. California has led the way in establishing standards for fuel emissions and other environmental policies ( Figure 3.18 ). Recently, the health insurance exchanges run by Connecticut, Kentucky, Rhode Island, and Washington have served as models for other states seeking to improve the performance of their exchanges. 71

Another advantage of federalism is that because our federal system creates two levels of government with the capacity to take action, failure to attain a desired policy goal at one level can be offset by successfully securing the support of elected representatives at another level. Thus, individuals, groups, and social movements are encouraged to actively participate and help shape public policy.

GET CONNECTED!

Federalism and political office.

Thinking of running for elected office? Well, you have several options. As Table 3.1 shows, there are a total of 510,682 elected offices at the federal, state, and local levels. Elected representatives in municipal and township governments account for a little more than half the total number of elected officials in the United States. Political careers rarely start at the national level. In fact, a very small share of politicians at the subnational level transition to the national stage as representatives, senators, vice presidents, or presidents.

If you are interested in serving the public as an elected official, there are more opportunities to do so at the local and state levels than at the national level. As an added incentive for setting your sights at the subnational stage, consider the following. Whereas only 35 percent of U.S. adults trusted Congress in 2018, according to Gallup, about 63 percent trusted their state governments and 72 percent had confidence in their local governments. 74 , 75

If you ran for public office, what problems would you most want to solve? What level of government would best enable you to solve them, and why?

The system of checks and balances in our political system often prevents the federal government from imposing uniform policies across the country. As a result, states and local communities have the latitude to address policy issues based on the specific needs and interests of their citizens. The diversity of public viewpoints across states is manifested by differences in the way states handle access to abortion, distribution of alcohol, gun control, and social welfare benefits, for example.

THE DRAWBACKS OF FEDERALISM

Federalism also comes with drawbacks. Chief among them are economic disparities across states, race-to-the-bottom dynamics (i.e., states compete to attract business by lowering taxes and regulations), and the difficulty of taking action on issues of national importance.

Stark economic differences across states have a profound effect on the well-being of citizens. For example, in 2017, Maryland had the highest median household income ($80,776), while West Virginia had the lowest ($43,469). 76 There are also huge disparities in school funding across states. In 2016, New York spent $22,366 per student for elementary and secondary education, while Utah spent $6,953. 77 Furthermore, health-care access, costs, and quality vary greatly across states. 78 Proponents of social justice contend that federalism has tended to obstruct national efforts to effectively even out these disparities. When national policy-making is stymied, and policy advocates move to the state level, it takes fifty-one different advocacy efforts to bring about change, compared to one effort were the national government to take the lead.

LINK TO LEARNING

The National Education Association discusses the problem of inequality in the educational system of the United States. Visit the Racial & Social Justice page of the NEA website to see how NEA EdJustice is advocating for change in this area.

The economic strategy of using race-to-the-bottom tactics in order to compete with other states in attracting new business growth also carries a social cost. For example, workers’ safety and pay can suffer as workplace regulations are lifted, and the reduction in payroll taxes for employers has led a number of states to end up with underfunded unemployment insurance programs. 79 As of March 2021, twelve states have also opted not to expand Medicaid, as encouraged by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act in 2010, for fear it will raise state public spending and increase employers’ cost of employee benefits, despite provisions that the federal government will pick up nearly all cost of the expansion. 80 , 81 More than half of these states are in the South.

The federal design of our Constitution and the system of checks and balances has jeopardized or outright blocked federal responses to important national issues. President Roosevelt’s efforts to combat the scourge of the Great Depression were initially struck down by the Supreme Court. More recently, President Obama’s effort to make health insurance accessible to more Americans under the Affordable Care Act immediately ran into legal challenges 82 from some states, but it has been supported by the Supreme Court so far. However, the federal government’s ability to defend the voting rights of citizens suffered a major setback when the Supreme Court in 2013 struck down a key provision of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 . 83 No longer are the nine states with histories of racial discrimination in their voting processes required to submit plans for changes to the federal government for approval. After a tumultuous 2020 election, many states in 2021 advanced legislation to make voting rules and processes more rigorous, a move many said was an effort to limit voting access. For example, elected leaders in Georgia passed a law making voter ID requirements much stricter and also significantly limited options to vote outside of Election Day itself. 84 In 2023’s Moore v. Harper , the Supreme Court affirmed that state legislatures were not able to pass these laws with complete autonomy. Rejecting the theory of “independent state legislature,” which asserted that states had the sole power to pass election laws, the Court ruled that voting laws passed by state governments were subject to judicial review. In 2023, the Court also ruled in favor of a challenge—already upheld by district courts—to new voting maps drawn up in Alabama; the plaintiffs had asserted that the new maps violated the Voting Rights Act by diluting the votes of Black voters. The Court agreed, and in the process held that the Voting Rights Act remained constitutional with regard to redistricting. 85

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11. The Development of American Government: Federalism

Advantages and disadvantages of federalism, learning objectives.

By the end of this section, you will be able to:

• Discuss the advantages of federalism
• Explain the disadvantages of federalism

The federal design of our Constitution has had a profound effect on U.S. politics. Several positive and negative attributes of federalism have manifested themselves in the U.S. political system.

The Benefits of Federalism

Among the merits of federalism are that it promotes policy innovation and political participation and accommodates diversity of opinion. On the subject of policy innovation, Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis observed in 1932 that “a single courageous state may, if its citizens choose, serve as a laboratory; and try novel social and economic experiments without risk to the rest of the country.” [1]

What Brandeis meant was that states could harness their constitutional authority to engage in policy innovations that might eventually be diffused to other states and at the national level. For example, a number of New Deal breakthroughs, such as child labor laws, were inspired by state policies. Prior to the passage of the Nineteenth Amendment , several states had already granted women the right to vote. California has led the way in establishing standards for fuel emissions and other environmental policies. Recently, the health insurance exchanges run by Connecticut, Kentucky, Rhode Island, and Washington have served as models for other states seeking to improve the performance of their exchanges. [2]

Figure 1. The California Air Resources Board was established in 1967, before passage of the federal Clean Air Act. The federal Environmental Protection Agency has adopted California emissions standards nationally, starting with the 2016 model year, and is working with California regulators to establish stricter national emissions standards going forward.(credit a: modification of work by Antti T. Nissinen; credit b: modification of work by Marcin Wichary)

Another advantage of federalism is that because our federal system creates two levels of government with the capacity to take action, failure to attain a desired policy goal at one level can be offset by successfully securing the support of elected representatives at another level. Thus, individuals, groups, and social movements are encouraged to actively participate and help shape public policy.

Get Conneced!

Federalism and political office.

Thinking of running for elected office? Well, you have several options. As the table shows, there are a total of 510,682 elected offices at the federal, state, and local levels. Elected representatives in municipal and township governments account for a little more than half the total number of elected officials in the United States. Political careers rarely start at the national level. In fact, a very small share of politicians at the subnational level transition to the national stage as representatives, senators, vice presidents, or presidents.

If you are interested in serving the public as an elected official, there are more opportunities to do so at the local and state levels than at the national level. As an added incentive for setting your sights at the subnational stage, consider the following. Whereas only 28 percent of U.S. adults trusted Congress in 2014, about 62 percent trusted their state governments and 72 percent had confidence in their local governments. [4]

If you ran for public office, what problems would you most want to solve? What level of government would best enable you to solve them, and why?

The system of checks and balances in our political system often prevents the federal government from imposing uniform policies across the country. As a result, states and local communities have the latitude to address policy issues based on the specific needs and interests of their citizens. The diversity of public viewpoints across states is manifested by differences in the way states handle access to abortion, distribution of alcohol, gun control, and social welfare benefits, for example.

The Drawbacks of Federalism

Federalism also comes with drawbacks. Chief among them are economic disparities across states, race-to-the-bottom dynamics (i.e., states compete to attract business by lowering taxes and regulations), and the difficulty of taking action on issues of national importance.

Stark economic differences across states have a profound effect on the well-being of citizens. For example, in  2017 , Maryland had the highest median household income ($80,776), while West Virginia had the lowest ($43,469). 73  There are also huge disparities in school funding across states. In 2016, New York spent $22,366 per student for elementary and secondary education, while Utah spent $6,953. 74  Furthermore, health-care access, costs, and quality vary greatly across states. 75  Proponents of social justice contend that federalism has tended to obstruct national efforts to effectively even out these disparities.

The economic strategy of using race-to-the-bottom tactics in order to compete with other states in attracting new business growth also carries a social cost. For example, workers’ safety and pay can suffer as workplace regulations are lifted, and the reduction in payroll taxes for employers has led a number of states to end up with underfunded unemployment insurance programs. 76  As of January  2019 , fourteen states have also opted not to expand Medicaid, as encouraged by the Patient Protection and  Affordable Care Act  in 2010, for fear it will raise state public spending and increase employers’ cost of employee benefits, despite provisions that the federal government will pick up nearly all cost of the expansion. 77  More than half of these states are in the South.

The federal design of our Constitution and the system of checks and balances has jeopardized or outright blocked federal responses to important national issues. President Roosevelt’s efforts to combat the scourge of the Great Depression were initially struck down by the Supreme Court. More recently, President Obama’s effort to make health insurance accessible to more Americans under the Affordable Care Act immediately ran into legal challenges 78  from some states, but it has been supported by the Supreme Court so far. However, the federal government’s ability to defend the voting rights of citizens suffered a major setback when the Supreme Court in 2013 struck down a key provision of the  Voting Rights Act of 1965 . 79  No longer are the nine states with histories of racial discrimination in their voting processes required to submit plans for changes to the federal government for approval.

Practice Questions

Advantages_and_Disadvantages_of_Federalism.xml

• Describe the advantages of federalism.
• Describe the disadvantages of federalism.
• Describe the primary differences in the role of citizens in government among the federal, confederation, and unitary systems.
• How have the political and economic relationships between the states and federal government evolved since the early 1800s?
• Discuss how the federal government shapes the actions of state and local governments.
• What are the merits and drawbacks of American federalism?
• What do you see as the upcoming challenges to federalism in the next decade? Choose an issue and outline how the states and the federal government could respond.

2. Federalism can trigger a race to the bottom, leading states to reduce workplace regulations and social benefits for employees; it can obstruct federal efforts to address national problems; and it can deepen economic and social disparities among states.

Beer, Samuel H. 1998. To Make a Nation: The Rediscovery of American Federalism . Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.

Berry, Christopher R. 2009. Imperfect Union: Representation and Taxation in Multilevel Governments . New York: Cambridge University Press.

Derthick, Martha, ed. 1999. Dilemmas of Scale in America’s Federal Democracy . New York: Cambridge University Press.

Diamond, Martin. 1981. The Founding of the American Democratic Republic . Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Cengage Learning.

Elazar, Daniel J. 1992. Federal Systems of the World: A Handbook of Federal, Confederal and Autonomy Arrangements . Harlow, Essex: Longman Current Affairs.

Grodzins, Morton. 2004. “The Federal System.” In American Government Readings and Cases , ed. P. Woll. New York: Pearson Longman, 74–78.

LaCroix, Alison. 2011. The Ideological Origins of American Federalism . Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.

Orren, Karen, and Stephen Skowronek. 2004. The Search for American Political Development . New York: Cambridge University Press.

O’Toole, Laurence J., Jr., and Robert K. Christensen, eds. 2012. American Intergovernmental Relations: Foundations, Perspectives, and Issues . Thousand Oaks, CA: CQ Press.

Peterson, Paul E. 1995. The Price of Federalism . Washington, DC: Brookings Institution Press.

Watts, Ronald L. 1999. Comparing Federal Systems . 2nd ed. Kingston, Ontario: McGill-Queen’s University Press.

race-to-the-bottom  a dynamic in which states compete to attract business by lowering taxes and regulations, often to workers’ detriment

• New State Ice Co. v. Liebmann , 285 U.S. 262 (1932). ↵
• Christine Vestal and Michael Ollove, "Why some state-run health exchanges worked," USA Today , 10 December 2013. ↵
• Jennifer Lawless. 2012. Becoming a Candidate . New York: Cambridge University Press. ↵
• Justin McCarthy. 2014. "Americans Still Trust Local Government More Than State," September 22. http://www.gallup.com/poll/176846/americans-trust-local-government-state.aspx (June 24, 2015). ↵
• American Government. Authored by : OpenStax. Provided by : OpenStax; Rice University. Located at : https://cnx.org/contents/[email protected]:Y1CfqFju@5/Preface . License : CC BY: Attribution . License Terms : Download for free at http://cnx.org/contents/9e28f580-0d1b-4d72-8795-c48329947ac2@1.
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3.5 Advantages and Disadvantages of Federalism

Learning Objectives

By the end of this section, you will be able to:

• Discuss the advantages of federalism
• Explain the disadvantages of federalism

The federal design of our Constitution has had a profound effect on U.S. politics. Several positive and negative attributes of federalism have manifested themselves in the U.S. political system.

THE BENEFITS OF FEDERALISM

Among the merits of federalism are that it promotes policy innovation and political participation and accommodates diversity of opinion. On the subject of policy innovation, Supreme Court Justice Louis  Brandeis  observed in 1932 that “a single courageous state may, if its citizens choose, serve as a laboratory; and try novel social and economic experiments without risk to the rest of the country.” 69  What Brandeis meant was that states could harness their constitutional authority to engage in policy innovations that might eventually be diffused to other states and at the national level. For example, a number of New Deal breakthroughs, such as child labor laws, were inspired by state policies. Prior to the passage of the  Nineteenth Amendment , several states had already granted women the right to vote. California has led the way in establishing standards for fuel emissions and other environmental policies ( Figure 3.18 ). Recently, the health insurance exchanges run by Connecticut, Kentucky, Rhode Island, and Washington have served as models for other states seeking to improve the performance of their exchanges. 70

Another advantage of federalism is that because our federal system creates two levels of government with the capacity to take action, failure to attain a desired policy goal at one level can be offset by successfully securing the support of elected representatives at another level. Thus, individuals, groups, and social movements are encouraged to actively participate and help shape public policy.

GET CONNECTED!

Federalism and political office.

Thinking of running for elected office? Well, you have several options. As  Table 3.1 shows, there are a total of 510,682 elected offices at the federal, state, and local levels. Elected representatives in municipal and township governments account for a little more than half the total number of elected officials in the United States. Political careers rarely start at the national level. In fact, a very small share of politicians at the subnational level transition to the national stage as representatives, senators, vice presidents, or presidents.

If you are interested in serving the public as an elected official, there are more opportunities to do so at the local and state levels than at the national level. As an added incentive for setting your sights at the subnational stage, consider the following. Whereas only 28 percent of U.S. adults trusted Congress in 2014, about 62 percent trusted their state governments and 72 percent had confidence in their local governments. 72

If you ran for public office, what problems would you most want to solve? What level of government would best enable you to solve them, and why?

The system of checks and balances in our political system often prevents the federal government from imposing uniform policies across the country. As a result, states and local communities have the latitude to address policy issues based on the specific needs and interests of their citizens. The diversity of public viewpoints across states is manifested by differences in the way states handle access to abortion, distribution of alcohol, gun control, and social welfare benefits, for example.

THE DRAWBACKS OF FEDERALISM

Federalism also comes with drawbacks. Chief among them are economic disparities across states,  race-to-the-bottom  dynamics (i.e., states compete to attract business by lowering taxes and regulations), and the difficulty of taking action on issues of national importance.

Stark economic differences across states have a profound effect on the well-being of citizens. For example, in 2017, Maryland had the highest median household income ($80,776), while West Virginia had the lowest ($43,469). 73  There are also huge disparities in school funding across states. In 2016, New York spent $22,366 per student for elementary and secondary education, while Utah spent $6,953. 74  Furthermore, health-care access, costs, and quality vary greatly across states. 75  Proponents of social justice contend that federalism has tended to obstruct national efforts to effectively even out these disparities.

LINK TO LEARNING

The National Education Association discusses the problem of inequality in the educational system of the United States. Read its  proposed solution  and decide whether you agree.

The economic strategy of using race-to-the-bottom tactics in order to compete with other states in attracting new business growth also carries a social cost. For example, workers’ safety and pay can suffer as workplace regulations are lifted, and the reduction in payroll taxes for employers has led a number of states to end up with underfunded unemployment insurance programs. 76  As of January 2019, fourteen states have also opted not to expand Medicaid, as encouraged by the Patient Protection and  Affordable Care Act  in 2010, for fear it will raise state public spending and increase employers’ cost of employee benefits, despite provisions that the federal government will pick up nearly all cost of the expansion. 77  More than half of these states are in the South.

The federal design of our Constitution and the system of checks and balances has jeopardized or outright blocked federal responses to important national issues. President Roosevelt’s efforts to combat the scourge of the Great Depression were initially struck down by the Supreme Court. More recently, President Obama’s effort to make health insurance accessible to more Americans under the Affordable Care Act immediately ran into legal challenges 78  from some states, but it has been supported by the Supreme Court so far. However, the federal government’s ability to defend the voting rights of citizens suffered a major setback when the Supreme Court in 2013 struck down a key provision of the  Voting Rights Act of 1965 . 79  No longer are the nine states with histories of racial discrimination in their voting processes required to submit plans for changes to the federal government for approval.

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15 Advantages and Disadvantages of Federalism

The definition of federalism is straightforward: it is the federal principle or system of government. Throughout history, it has been a political system where 2+ governments share authority over the same geographical area. Most of the democratic countries in the world today use this method of governing, including Australia, Canada, India, and the United States.

Even the European Union is an example of federalism.

The exact structures of each system can vary widely based on how the country sets up its governing process. In the EU, the members of the upper houses in the government are not elected or appointed, but they serve as delegates of their respective governments. For the United States, there are local, country, and state governing authorities which all have a unique set of laws and regulations for people to follow.

Some choose to use a central system of government that regulates the entire country. Others do not. Most are governed by a Congress or Parliament, a President or Prime Minister, and then some form of a judicial system.

There are several pros and cons of federalism to consider when looking at it as a political system.

List of the Pros of Federalism

1. Federalism provides a structure that diffuses governmental power. Many forms of federalism look to create checks and balances throughout society as a way to create an equal governing process. By diffusing power to multiple branches of office, like the U.S. does with the executive, legislative, and judicial segments, it becomes more challenging for one division to take over the country. When power is not centralized in a government, then there are fewer issues with individual corruption that can impact the entire nation.

2. Federalism creates a protection against tyranny. This form of government will also make it challenging for a single branch of government to obtain complete control over the structure. There is no way to obtain runaway power in this structure unless voters approve of that process first. Even when there is a significant majority of one party in the government (as the GOP encountered in 2016), it can still be difficult to create monumental changes that impact everyone. This process is one of the primary reasons why democratic countries choose this form over the other governing options which are available.

3. Federalism is an efficient process. Because the U.S. provides some of the power to the states, it creates efficiencies in the governing system because delegation is possible. Local governments receive the right to begin solving some of their own problems. If this structure was not available, then you would get cookie-cutter regulations that may not apply to some geographical areas. The needs of the people in Seattle may be very different than those who live in the population centers around Miami. This structure allows each group to live in a way that maximizes their safety while minimizing effort.

4. Federalism increases the level of participation by individuals. People become more involved with their government in a variety of ways when federalism is the structure in place. Elected officials are closer to what a citizen is than a state official under this structure, which means people can visit a local office to express their opinions without a fear of judgment. When we have a chance to embrace diversity as a culture, then it is an opportunity to draw upon each of our strengths to create something amazing. Other forms of government do not offer such an opportunity.

5. Federalism encourages a system of cooperation. Different communities have unique requirements that they must meet to maximize their quality of life. Instead of mandating that everyone follows the same set of laws, this system allows each community to create a foundation that works the best for their needs. If you travel to almost any town, city, or village in the United States, then you will discover a different set of laws, rules, and regulations to follow. Many of them are similar, but there are also several which are not.

6. Federalism encourages innovation in governing. Because this structure of government looks at cooperation and sharing as its primary structure, there is an opportunity to try a different set of policies to see how they will work. This process can create positive or negative results. A recent example in the United States of this advantage is the requirement to drug test working adults who receive welfare benefits. Some governments are trying it, while others or not. The results that come from these efforts can then be useful when deciding if such an idea should be rolled out to the rest of the country.

7. Federalism allows the government to become more responsive to individual needs. When a government is closer to its citizens, then it can provide a responsive solution when there are citizen needs, emergency situations, or changes that are necessary in the structure of laws. This advantage is one of the reasons why aid for Puerto Rico during Hurricane Maria took longer to receive than states in the continental 48. The local governments could distribute resources first instead of relying on the national government like the island because of the availability of local resources.

List of the Cons of Federalism

1. Federalism often protects the will of the majority at any cost. Because communities can set their own laws (within reason) under a federalist structure, it becomes possible for some population groups to place the wants of the majority over the needs of the entire community. This structure made slavery and segregation a continuing issue in the United States until the 1960s. It was partially responsible for the division in the 1800s that eventually led to the Civil War. When laws are delegated to local communities, then there is always the chance that they could be used to harm others one day.

2. Federalism can encourage the passing of ridiculous laws. The structure of federalism encourages local communities to self-govern in the most efficient manner possible. This process is usually a healthy way to help keep households safe no matter where they are in the country. It can also be used as a way to pass ridiculous laws as a way to make a political statement, discourage tourism, or some other specific result. Here are just a few of the craziest laws you can find in the U.S. right now.

• It is illegal in Arizona for a donkey to sleep in a bathtub. • If you go to Colorado, then it is illegal to keep a couch on your porch. • You are not allowed to sell the hair of a dog or cat in Delaware. • Hawaii made it against the law to place a coin in your ear. • You cannot “drive” a horse in Indiana above a set speed limit of 10mph.

3. Federalism allows local governments to fight the national governments. The local governments can decide to fight the existence of some specific national laws by going through the justice system of the country. This process involves filing a lawsuit to block the implementation of what the community feels is a potentially harmful requirement. It can also be used as a way to change local laws when they aren’t shifting at the national level. One of the most significant examples of this issue involves the legalization of recreational cannabis.

That’s not to say that all actions are a disadvantage. There are times when blocking the implementation of federal law is beneficial. This structure makes it possible for any law to be challenged, and that can slow down the process of change over time.

4. Federalism allows national governments to fight the local ones. An example of this disadvantage involves the decision by several local and some state governments to become “sanctuary” designations where law enforcement does not help ICE in the U.S. with immigration detainment. The U.S. government threatened to pull funding from the cities choosing this action, and then filed suit against them in an effort to try getting compliance.

The structure of this government can create inefficiencies in the system because the national government might not like the way the local officials choose to oversee their communities. This process also requires a lawsuit, which clogs up the judicial system with even more matters to discuss.

5. Federalism can create oppositional competition. Because each community can create their own set of laws and rules in a system of federalism (especially in the United States), then the structure can create unwanted competition for resources that seeks to limit some demographics. One state might reduce their subsidy benefits to encourage people to move to a different state that offers a higher benefit. Another government might offer a significant tax break to a company that encourages them to place offices in one location and not another.

6. Federalism can create uncertainty. Because there are multiple layers of government working cooperatively with one another in a federalist system, it can be challenging at times for specific communities to know where they can receive assistance. There are natural disasters, national welfare aid distributed to the states for authorization, public education resources, and many more benefits or circumstances where someone must navigate each level of government to find the results they want. Knowing who is responsible for specific issues can make it difficult for any aid to make it to its intended destination.

7. Federalism can be inefficient. There are efficiencies to consider with delegation that make this governing structure such an inviting option. Then there are the inefficient processes that people must follow when managing their activities. People must stay in compliance with the laws that are in every layer of governing. That means some people in the U.S. must follow four different sets of laws. Knowing what you can or cannot do can be a confusing process, especially when there are conflicting statements offered by the different parties.

8. Federalism can be structured to benefit only the rich. Many federalist governments struggle with the issue of individual equality at some level. For the United States, it is the wage and wealth gaps to consider. The top 1% of income earners own a majority of the wealth increases experienced since 2009. Many women only make 80% for doing the same job that men do when they look at their salary. These structures can be challenging to change when there are some many obstacles that are put in the way thanks to the checks and balances of this system.

The pros and cons of federalism provide evidence that it is usually better for a society and nation if there is a system of power sharing available for the government. It creates checks and balances in a system that promote individual freedoms and self-governing at a higher level when compared to the other options which are possible. Although there are challenges to face in any type of government, most people who live in a federalist system say that they wouldn’t change the structure whatsoever.

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Federalism: The Advantages and Disadvantages

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• Introduction

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Noncentralization, areal division of power, elements maintaining noncentralization, elements maintaining the federal principle.

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• Social Science LibreTexts - The Meanings of Federalism
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• Table Of Contents

federalism , mode of political organization that unites separate states or other polities within an overarching political system in a way that allows each to maintain its own integrity . Federal systems do this by requiring that basic policies be made and implemented through negotiation in some form, so that all the members can share in making and executing decisions. The political principles that animate federal systems emphasize the primacy of bargaining and negotiated coordination among several power centres; they stress the virtues of dispersed power centres as a means for safeguarding individual and local liberties.

The various political systems that call themselves federal differ in many ways. Certain characteristics and principles, however, are common to all truly federal systems.

First, the federal relationship must be established or confirmed through a perpetual covenant of union , usually embodied in a written constitution that outlines the terms by which power is divided or shared; the constitution can be altered only by extraordinary procedures. These constitutions are distinctive in being not simply compacts between rulers and ruled but involving the people, the general government, and the states constituting the federal union. The constituent states, moreover, often retain constitution-making rights of their own.

Second, the political system itself must reflect the constitution by actually diffusing power among a number of substantially self-sustaining centres. Such a diffusion of power may be termed noncentralization . Noncentralization is a way of ensuring in practice that the authority to participate in exercising political power cannot be taken away from the general or the state governments without common consent.

A third element of any federal system is what has been called in the United States territorial democracy . This has two faces: the use of areal divisions to ensure neutrality and equality in the representation of the various groups and interests in the polity and the use of such divisions to secure local autonomy and representation for diverse groups within the same civil society . Territorial neutrality has proved highly useful in societies that are changing, allowing for the representation of new interests in proportion to their strength simply by allowing their supporters to vote in relatively equal territorial units. At the same time, the accommodation of very diverse groups whose differences are fundamental rather than transient by giving them territorial power bases of their own has enhanced the ability of federal systems to function as vehicles of political integration while preserving democratic government. One example of this system may be seen in Canada , which includes a population of French descent, centred in the province of Quebec.

Elements maintaining union

Modern federal systems generally provide direct lines of communication between the citizenry and all the governments that serve them. The people may and usually do elect representatives to all the governments, and all of them may and usually do administer programs that directly serve the individual citizen.

The existence of those direct lines of communication is one of the features distinguishing federations from leagues or confederations . It is usually based on a sense of common nationality binding the constituent polities and people together. In some countries this sense of nationality has been inherited, as in Germany , while in the United States, Argentina , and Australia it had to be at least partly invented. Canada and Switzerland have had to evolve this sense in order to hold together strongly divergent nationality groups.

Geographic necessity has played a part in promoting the maintenance of union within federal systems. The Mississippi Valley in the United States, the Alps in Switzerland, the island character of the Australian continent, and the mountains and jungles surrounding Brazil have all been influences promoting unity; so have the pressures for Canadian union arising from that country’s situation on the border of the United States and the pressures upon the German states generated by their neighbours to the east and west. In this connection, the necessity for a common defense against common enemies has stimulated federal union in the first place and acted to maintain it.

The constituent polities in a federal system must be fairly equal in population and wealth or else balanced geographically or numerically in their inequalities. In the United States, each geographic section has included both great and small states. In Canada, the ethnic differences between the two largest and richest provinces have prevented them from combining against the others. Swiss federalism has been supported by the existence of groups of cantons of different sizes and religio-linguistic backgrounds. Similar distributions exist in every other successful federal system.

A major reason for the failure of federal systems has often been a lack of balance among the constituent polities. In the German federal empire of the late 19th century, Prussia was so dominant that the other states had little opportunity to provide national leadership or even a reasonably strong alternative to the policy of the king and government. During the Soviet era (1917–90/91), the existence of the Russian Soviet Federated Socialist Republic—occupying three-fourths of the area and containing three-fifths of the population—severely limited the possibility of authentic federal relationships in that country even if the communist system had not.

Successful federal systems have also been characterized by the permanence of their internal boundaries. Boundary changes may occur, but such changes are made only with the consent of the polities involved and are avoided except in extreme situations.

In a few very important cases, noncentralization is given support through the constitutionally guaranteed existence of different systems of law in the constituent polities. In the United States, each state’s legal system stems directly and to a certain extent uniquely from English (and, in one case, French) law, while federal law occupies only an interstitial position binding the systems of the 50 states together. The resulting mixture of laws keeps the administration of justice substantially noncentralized, even in federal courts. In Canada, the existence of common-law and civil-law systems side by side has contributed to French-Canadian cultural survival. Federal systems more often provide for modification of national legal codes by the subnational governments to meet special local needs, as in Switzerland.

The point has often been made that in a truly federal system the constituent polities must have substantial influence over the formal or informal constitutional -amending process. Since constitutional changes are often made without formal constitutional amendment , the position of the constituent polities must be such that serious changes in the political order can be made only by the decision of dispersed majorities that reflect the areal division of powers . Federal theorists have argued that this is important for popular government as well as for federalism.

Noncentralization is also strengthened by giving the constituent polities guaranteed representation in the national legislature and often by giving them a guaranteed role in the national political process. The latter is guaranteed in the written constitutions of the United States and Switzerland. In other systems, such as those of Canada and Latin America, the constituent polities have acquired certain powers of participation, and these have become part of the unwritten constitution.

Perhaps the most important single element in the maintenance of federal noncentralization is the existence of a noncentralized party system. Noncentralized parties initially develop out of the constitutional arrangements of the federal compact, but once they have come into existence they tend to be self-perpetuating and to function as decentralizing forces in their own right. The United States and Canada provide examples of the forms that a noncentralized party system may take. In the two-party system of the United States, the parties are actually coalitions of the state parties (which may in turn be dominated by specific local party organizations) and generally function as national units only for the quadrennial presidential elections or for purposes of organizing the national Congress.

In Canada, on the other hand, the parliamentary form of government, with its requirements of party responsibility, means that on the national plane considerably more party cohesiveness must be maintained simply in order to gain and hold power. There has been a fragmentation of the parties along regional or provincial lines. The party victorious in national elections is likely to be the one able to expand its provincial electoral bases temporarily to national proportions.

Federal nations with less-developed party systems frequently gain some of the same decentralizing effects through what has been called caudillismo —in which power is diffused among strong local leaders operating in the constituent polities. Caudillistic noncentralization has apparently existed also in Nigeria and Malaysia.

Several devices found in federal systems serve to maintain the federal principle itself. Two of these are of particular importance.

The maintenance of federalism requires that the central government and the constituent polities each have substantially complete governing institutions of their own, with the right to modify those institutions unilaterally within limits set by the compact. Both separate legislative and separate administrative institutions are necessary.

The contractual sharing of public responsibilities by all governments in the system appears to be a fundamental characteristic of federalism. Sharing, broadly conceived, includes common involvement in policy making, financing, and administration. Sharing may be formal or informal; in federal systems, it is usually contractual. The contract is used as a legal device to enable governments to engage in joint action while remaining independent entities. Even where there is no formal arrangement, the spirit of federalism tends to infuse a sense of contractual obligation.

Federal systems or systems strongly influenced by federal principles have been among the most stable and long-lasting of polities. But the successful operation of federal systems requires a particular kind of political environment , one that is conducive to popular government and has the requisite traditions of political cooperation and self-restraint. Beyond this, federal systems operate best in societies with sufficient homogeneity of fundamental interests to allow a great deal of latitude to local government and to permit reliance upon voluntary collaboration. The use of force to maintain domestic order is even more inimical to the successful maintenance of federal patterns of government than to other forms of popular government. Federal systems are most successful in societies that have the human resources to fill many public offices competently and the material resources to afford a measure of economic waste as part of the price of liberty.

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6 (page 74) p. 74 C6 Advantages and disadvantages of federalism

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Advantages and disadvantages of federalism as much as the federal system is the preferred option of Americans who historically have had a skeptical view of centralized power, it is far from a perfect system for the effective operations of government. Despite its many virtues, the shortcomings inherent in the US federal system lead many observers to question whether it is adequate to meet the needs of increasingly complex social and economic problems. Advantages include flexibility of standards and in dealing with religious diversity, experimentation, varying policies at different levels of government, keeping central government in check, and providing citizen choice. Disadvantages include competition between the states, inefficiency, inequality, and lack of accountability.

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12 Federalism Pros and Cons

Federalism is a system of government where power is divided between several different entities. Each entity is given the power to share control over the same geographic region as another entity. In the United States, a system of Federalism is in place because laws can be passed by a local government, the state government, or the national government.

This prevents one solitary body from being able to control every aspect of governing over a population. It also means there are tiered laws and systems that can be confusing for certain geographic regions when laws may conflict. Take the marijuana legalization that has occurred in the US. Recreational marijuana may be legal in some states, but it is illegal at the national level.

Even though local law enforcement may not arrest someone because the state laws say their actions are fine, national laws may dictate otherwise and allow a national law enforcement officer to conduct an arrest anyway.

Here are some additional Federalism pros and cons to think about.

The Pros of Federalism

1. It creates a sense of local patriotism. People feel close to their communities. Although there is always a level of national pride, local patriotism is usually the first level of loyalty that an individual will experience. Federalism encourages this local loyalty by allowing communities to create laws and regulations that benefit themselves, even if those laws wouldn’t make sense to implement in another geographic region.

2. It lessens the bureaucracy. Although there are tiered levels of laws and regulations, the level of bureaucracy that exists within a system of Federalism is lower than it is in other government structures. Diverse populations have unique needs that must be met and having a national-level government attempt to understand those needs is always difficult. By allowing local or regional officials to have the power to meet those needs, the safety and security of a population can be better met.

3. It can provide evidence of success… or failure. Because local and regional communities can create their own laws and regulations, other government structures can look at the evidence of success or failure from those efforts to determine if they could be used in other geographic regions. Welfare reform in the US originated from regulation efforts made in Wisconsin, for example, and many environmental protection policies have originated from California.

4. It provides a better level of stability from a political perspective. By allowing geographic regions to have a role in self-governing, the national government achieves political stability to some extent because the people feel like they are in control of their own destiny. The national government can then act as more of an oversight or support network to the local and regional governments that are in place.

5. It encourages involvement. Because governments are at a local level, people know friends, neighbors, or family members who are active in creating policies, procedures, or laws. Most elected positions, from school and hospital boards to the city council and mayor, are local offices. Because there is such open access to the government, it encourages involvement because serving is so easy to do.

6. It separates the powers of the government. Imagine if the President of the US were to eliminate all other branches of the national government. No more Congress. No Supreme Court. What could happen? Because there is a separation of powers, freedom is still ensured because the state governments act independently of the national government and the local governments, to a great extent, act independently of the state government. The checks and balances it creates allows for independence.

The Cons of Federalism

1. It creates confusion. Because the laws vary in each geographic region, people who travel or move to a new destination may find themselves violating the law without realizing it. Recreational marijuana may be legal in Colorado, but if you take legally purchased product outside of the state, you are then violating the local law there. You’re also violating national laws on marijuana with a purchase. This makes it difficult to know if you’re actions are “right” or “wrong” as a citizen.

2. It encourages governments to “pass the buck.” No one really wants to take accountability for failed policies in a structure of Federalism. Everyone blames everyone else and that creates gridlock between the various agencies. Then nothing gets done because everyone is trying to assign blame and each group feels they have the correct ethical or moral position. In other government systems, there is no question about who is to blame because there is only one unit of government.

3. It creates a wealth gap. “The rich get richer and the poor get poorer.” It’s an expression that is heard in the US quite often and can be described as a “wealth gap.” Socioeconomic resources are maintained at local levels and the national government is then asked to fill-in whatever gaps may exist, with historically mixed levels of success.

4. It causes uncertainty. Wildfires blaze throughout the Western United States every summer. Who is responsible for taking care of this issue so that no one gets hurt? Or a hurricane blasts the eastern seaboard and causes extensive damage, flooding, and homelessness. Who is responsible for responding? Because the government is tiered, no one is really sure who needs to respond or pay for the response and this can create delays in service.

5. It can be used for leverage. Let’s say the national government wants to change health care laws for everyone, but a handful of regional governments don’t want any changes to take place. To garner support for the change, the national government could offer additional funding or resources to the hold-out regional governments, but not offer anything to those who agree that a change needs to be made. Federalism is a structure that encourages dissent because that dissent can be used as leverage to grab more resources.

6. It stops national policies from being implemented. Local laws can hamper the passage of regional laws. Regional laws can hamper the passage of national laws. Federalism effectively disperses powers throughout a nation, but that also means the creation of national policies can be incredibly difficult. Unless there are exceptions in place for each geographic region so that individualized needs can be met in some way, it can take more than generation to pass national-level legal changes.

These Federalism pros and cons show us that it is a political system that is designed to ensure freedoms can be experienced, even in times of governmental turmoil. No one has all the power, which means the population can’t be overrun by their government. On the other hand, that insurance for freedom comes at the cost of creating national identities, unity, and policy.

Essay on Federalism: Advantages and Disadvantages

Federalism, as a form of government, has its advantages and disadvantages. Supporters of federalism state that this form of government can be viewed as the most suitable form to address the interests and needs of diverse groups of people. State’s laws guarantee the application of the best strategies to meet the needs of citizens, e.g. gun control laws, alcohol-related laws, abortion-related laws, etc. Ventral government fails to address these needs in a proper way. Besides, federalism is aimed at strengthening liberty through the division of powers between different levels of government. In fact, the division of power guarantees legal protection against the “concentration of power in a single, unitary government” (Dautrich & Yalof, 2011, p. 78). The division of power helps to preserve liberty. Moreover, federalism helps to encourage social and economic experimentation and provides effective response to changes in different sectors. Democracy encouraged by federalism allows states to develop and implement policies to improve the life of the nation. Adaptability of states to changing environment helps to manage bureaucracy and other issues.

            The opponents of federalism provide many arguments that describe the disadvantage of federalism. Federalism can be characterized as an unfair system that involves the existence   of economic disparities between the states, and “questions about government accountability for many public programs that are inherent with competing sovereigns” (Dautrich & Yalof, 2011, p. 79). The difference between the states in concluded in different levels of citizens, their financial opportunities, taxes and incomes. The lack of accountability is concluded in challenges caused by the functioning of multiple levels of government, which make it difficult to deal with these challenges effectively. Besides, federalism is dependent on the courts’ decisions to define the rules of this form of government.  As a result, the judicial decision making forms the basis of the federalist system functioning.

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Introduction to federalism: a mixed government system, evolution and modern interpretation of federalism, advantages of federalism: efficiency and diversity, case study: federalism in the united states, challenges of federalism: uniformity and accountability, federalism in russia: a work in progress, final thoughts.

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Chapter 3: American Federalism

Advantages and Disadvantages of Federalism

Learning objectives.

By the end of this section, you will be able to:

• Discuss the advantages of federalism
• Explain the disadvantages of federalism

The federal design of our Constitution has had a profound effect on U.S. politics. Several positive and negative attributes of federalism have manifested themselves in the U.S. political system.

THE BENEFITS OF FEDERALISM

Among the merits of federalism are that it promotes policy innovation and political participation and accommodates diversity of opinion. On the subject of policy innovation, Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis observed in 1932 that “a single courageous state may, if its citizens choose, serve as a laboratory; and try novel social and economic experiments without risk to the rest of the country.” [1]

What Brandeis meant was that states could harness their constitutional authority to engage in policy innovations that might eventually be diffused to other states and at the national level. For example, a number of New Deal breakthroughs, such as child labor laws, were inspired by state policies. Prior to the passage of the Nineteenth Amendment , several states had already granted women the right to vote. California has led the way in establishing standards for fuel emissions and other environmental policies (Figure) . Recently, the health insurance exchanges run by Connecticut, Kentucky, Rhode Island, and Washington have served as models for other states seeking to improve the performance of their exchanges. [2]

Another advantage of federalism is that because our federal system creates two levels of government with the capacity to take action, failure to attain a desired policy goal at one level can be offset by successfully securing the support of elected representatives at another level. Thus, individuals, groups, and social movements are encouraged to actively participate and help shape public policy.

Thinking of running for elected office? Well, you have several options. As shows, there are a total of 510,682 elected offices at the federal, state, and local levels. Elected representatives in municipal and township governments account for a little more than half the total number of elected officials in the United States. Political careers rarely start at the national level. In fact, a very small share of politicians at the subnational level transition to the national stage as representatives, senators, vice presidents, or presidents. Elected Officials at the Federal, State, and Local Levels Number of Elective Bodies Number of Elected Officials 1 Executive branch 2 U.S. Senate 100 U.S. House of Representatives 435 50 State legislatures 7,382 Statewide offices 1,036 State boards 1,331 County governments 3,034 58,818 Municipal governments 19,429 135,531 Town governments 16,504 126,958 School districts 13,506 95,000 Special districts 35,052 84,089 Table 1. This table lists the number of elected bodies and elected officials at the federal, state, and local levels. [3] If you are interested in serving the public as an elected official, there are more opportunities to do so at the local and state levels than at the national level. As an added incentive for setting your sights at the subnational stage, consider the following. Whereas only 28 percent of U.S. adults trusted Congress in 2014, about 62 percent trusted their state governments and 72 percent had confidence in their local governments. [4] The system of checks and balances in our political system often prevents the federal government from imposing uniform policies across the country. As a result, states and local communities have the latitude to address policy issues based on the specific needs and interests of their citizens. The diversity of public viewpoints across states is manifested by differences in the way states handle access to abortion, distribution of alcohol, gun control, and social welfare benefits, for example. THE DRAWBACKS OF FEDERALISM Federalism also comes with drawbacks. Chief among them are economic disparities across states, race-to-the-bottom dynamics (i.e., states compete to attract business by lowering taxes and regulations), and the difficulty of taking action on issues of national importance. Stark economic differences across states have a profound effect on the well-being of citizens. For example, in 2014, Maryland had the highest median household income ($73,971), while Mississippi had the lowest ($39,680). [5] There are also huge disparities in school funding across states. In 2013, New York spent $19,818 per student for elementary and secondary education, while Utah spent $6,555.Governing. [6] Furthermore, health-care access, costs, and quality vary greatly across states. [7] Proponents of social justice contend that federalism has tended to obstruct national efforts to effectively even out these disparities. The economic strategy of using race-to-the-bottom tactics in order to compete with other states in attracting new business growth also carries a social cost. For example, workers’ safety and pay can suffer as workplace regulations are lifted, and the reduction in payroll taxes for employers has led a number of states to end up with underfunded unemployment insurance programs. (cf. Alexander Hertel-Fernandez. 2012. “Why U.S. Unemployment Insurance is in Financial Trouble,” February. http://www.scholarsstrategynetwork.org/sites/default/files/ssn_basic_facts_hertel-fernandez_on_unemployment_insurance_financing.pdf) Nineteen states have also opted not to cover more of their residents under Medicaid, as encouraged by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act in 2010, for fear it will raise state public spending and increase employers’ cost of employee benefits, despite provisions that the federal government will pick up nearly all cost of the expansion. [8] More than half of these states are in the South. The federal design of our Constitution and the system of checks and balances has jeopardized or outright blocked federal responses to important national issues. President Roosevelt’s efforts to combat the scourge of the Great Depression were initially struck down by the Supreme Court. More recently, President Obama’s effort to make health insurance accessible to more Americans under the Affordable Care Act immediately ran into legal challenges [9] from some states, but it has been supported by the Supreme Court so far. However, the federal government’s ability to defend the voting rights of citizens suffered a major setback when the Supreme Court in 2013 struck down a key provision of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 . [10] No longer are the nine states with histories of racial discrimination in their voting processes required to submit plans for changes to the federal government for approval. The benefits of federalism are that it can encourage political participation, give states an incentive to engage in policy innovation, and accommodate diverse viewpoints across the country. The disadvantages are that it can set off a race to the bottom among states, cause cross-state economic and social disparities, and obstruct federal efforts to address national problems. New State Ice Co. v. Liebmann , 285 U.S. 262 (1932). ↵ Christine Vestal and Michael Ollove, “Why some state-run health exchanges worked,” USA Today , 10 December 2013. ↵ Jennifer Lawless. 2012. Becoming a Candidate. New York: Cambridge University Press. ↵ Justin McCarthy. 2014. “Americans Still Trust Local Government More Than State,” September 22. http://www.gallup.com/poll/176846/americans-trust-local-government-state.aspx (June 24, 2015). ↵ http://www.deptofnumbers.com/income/ for more data on household income. ↵ “Education Spending Per Student by State.” http://www.governing.com/gov-data/education-data/state-education-spending-per-pupil-data.html (June 24, 2015). ↵ The Commonwealth Fund. “Aiming Higher: Results from a Scorecard on State Health System Performance, 2014.” http://www.commonwealthfund.org/publications/fund-reports/2014/apr/2014-state-scorecard (June 24, 2015). ↵ Matt Broaddus and January Angeles. 2012. “Federal Government Will Pick Up Nearly All Costs of Health Reform’s Medicaid Expansion,” March 28. http://www.cbpp.org/research/federal-government-will-pick-up-nearly-all-costs-of-health-reforms-medicaid-expansion ↵ National Federation of Independent Business v. Sebelius , 567 U.S. __ (2012). ↵ Shelby County v. Holder , 570 U.S. __ (2013). ↵ American Government Copyright © 2016 by cnxamgov is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License , except where otherwise noted. Share This Book EssayBasics.com Pay For Essay Write My Essay Homework Writing Help Essay Editing Service Thesis Writing Help Write My College Essay Do My Essay Term Paper Writing Service Coursework Writing Service Write My Research Paper Assignment Writing Help Essay Writing Help Call Now! (USA) Login Order now EssayBasics.com Call Now! (USA) Order now Writing Guides Advantages And Disadvantages Of Federalism (Essay Sample) 2023 Table of Contents Advantages And Disadvantages Of Federalism How Can I Get Essay For Free and Is it realistic to expect a low-cost, High-Quality Essay from a Cheap Paper Writing Service ? Advantages and Disadvantages of Federalism Federalism is a system of government in which sovereignty is completely divided constitutionally into a central authority and political units such as states or province. It is also a system where the central government shares the democratic and constitutional right with the province or state, as a result creating federation. Adolf Hitler viewed fidelity as a hindrance to his goals during Nazmas 1933 to 1945.Analytically people who had strongly not support for deisms up to date in South Sudan as an example poses the same fear Hitler had. Chinese did not support deisms since they thought it could act as a backdoor of succession and control of power will be in a central community or state. As a result of this fideism it has brought with it merits and demerits. This essay seeks to describe the significance of federalism as well as the demerits that come with it. Federalism acts as a tool to protect against tyranny. One of the vital points in undertaking federalism is to act as deterrent to tyranny or runway power. Federalism divides the power between state government and national government and distribution of power to every state of government. Tyranny or runway of power has seen governments collapse but as a hindrance to that federalism helps to prevent such acts. Federalism diffuses the power since the three branches of government will have access to power of which is not in excess.  Excess power in a group or state tends to influence rise in corruption. It increases citizen’s participation. This is archived through the state government which is closer to the citizens compared to the central government. Citizens take crucial part in the implementation of government policy and law making. Federalism also aids in conflict management by allowing different community states to make their own choices in terms of policies creating harmony. Those with strong differences can solve their differences in the state government. Federalism is efficient since by distribution of power it is easy to determine places with different problems. This is an advantage to the national government as power running is efficient. Innovation in policy and law is encouraged since state government can easily apply the policies and those not undertaken can easily be noted. The state government will therefore seek to adjust the policy in order to suit the people in the state. Federalism has also its drawbacks. Federalism creates inequality between two states of the same country. For instance, education money set aside for the ministry to be used, states can opt to use more per chapter income in education than other states, and this will create in the state disparity. The same applies to other sectors. Another drawback is that elites or the rich in the state will try to proclaim their determination so that they may have a control of resources in the state. Major tribes or majority group in some state will try and build their kingdom and have influence over the state resource. Federalism can lead to tribal difference or conflicts and as a result vengeance and hatred will arise between the two states. With many states in the countries some will have poor policies, while other have good policy, others unresponsive or ineffective and corrupt while others doing well. The difference makes a country not stable. In conclusion federalism has brought merits and demerits. As power is distributed to the states, one need to note that it has side effects, because it can influence change in people and implement policies, minimizes tyranny, encourages citizen participation in government work or even improve life standards because the government is near the citizens. However the state government should avoid tribal conflicts caused by it, use state resource well and ensure every sector receives equal share to avoid disparity. 277 COMMENTS Federalism Advantages and Disadvantages Essay Federalism is a political philosophy where a number of parties are conjugated together by an agreement (Pierre, 2003). Federalism is a type of public administration system where power is allocated between a national or central government and constituent or provincial political units. Both governments derive their powers from a constitution. Advantages and Disadvantages of Federalism Overall, federalism is a political system with both advantages and disadvantages. It can prevent the country's political power from being monopolized and is more responsive to the citizens' needs, evoking increased political participation from them. It has certain drawbacks, including the separation between state and federal authorities ... Advantages and Disadvantages of Federalism Federalism also comes with drawbacks. Chief among them are economic disparities across states, race-to-the-bottom dynamics (i.e., states compete to attract business by lowering taxes and regulations), and the difficulty of taking action on issues of national importance. 3.5 Advantages and Disadvantages of Federalism Federalism and Political Office. Thinking of running for elected office? Well, you have several options. As Table 3.1 shows, there are a total of 510,682 elected offices at the federal, state, and local levels. Elected representatives in municipal and township governments account for a little more than half the total number of elected officials in the United States. Advantages and Disadvantages of Federalism THE DRAWBACKS OF FEDERALISM. Federalism also comes with drawbacks. Chief among them are economic disparities across states, race-to-the-bottom dynamics (i.e., states compete to attract business by lowering taxes and regulations), and the difficulty of taking action on issues of national importance. Stark economic differences across states have a profound effect on the well-being of citizens. Advantages and Disadvantages of Federalism 13 Advantages and Disadvantages of Federalism LEARNING OBJECTIVES. By the end of this section, you will be able to: Discuss the advantages of federalism; Explain the disadvantages of federalism; The federal design of our Constitution has had a profound effect on U.S. politics. Several positive and negative attributes of federalism have ... Advantages and Disadvantages of Federalism The Drawbacks of Federalism. Federalism also comes with drawbacks. Chief among them are economic disparities across states, race-to-the-bottom dynamics (i.e., states compete to attract business by lowering taxes and regulations), and the difficulty of taking action on issues of national importance. 3.5 Advantages and Disadvantages of Federalism 3.5 Advantages and Disadvantages of Federalism. By the end of this section, you will be able to: The federal design of our Constitution has had a profound effect on U.S. politics. Several positive and negative attributes of federalism have manifested themselves in the U.S. political system. 15 Advantages and Disadvantages of Federalism This structure allows each group to live in a way that maximizes their safety while minimizing effort. 4. Federalism increases the level of participation by individuals. People become more involved with their government in a variety of ways when federalism is the structure in place. Federalism: The Advantages and Disadvantages It also allows for the national government to insure that the local governments do not abuse their power, and vice-versa. Federalism creates the "laboratories of democracy" addressed in question 9. It allows for greater participation in the political process. One of the biggest disadvantages I see in federalism is lines of communication. Federalism states' rights. secession. local option. sovereignty association. nullification. federalism, mode of political organization that unites separate states or other polities within an overarching political system in a way that allows each to maintain its own integrity. Federal systems do this by requiring that basic policies be made and ... Advantages and disadvantages of federalism Advantages and disadvantages of federalism as much as the federal system is the preferred option of Americans who historically have had a skeptical view of centralized power, it is far from a perfect system for the effective operations of government. Despite its many virtues, the shortcomings inherent in the US federal system lead many ... 12 Federalism Pros and Cons The Pros of Federalism. 1. It creates a sense of local patriotism. People feel close to their communities. Although there is always a level of national pride, local patriotism is usually the first level of loyalty that an individual will experience. Federalism encourages this local loyalty by allowing communities to create laws and regulations ... PDF THE ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF FEDERALISM THE ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF FEDERALISM Federalism is a form of government that allows for more than one central entity to have power. What this means is that there is a federal government who is above all others, and smaller, more localized forms of governments that take control of local and regional issues. Advantage And Disadvantages Of Federalism (Free Essay Example) Advantage And Disadvantages Of Federalism (Free Essay Example) Paul Amoruso · Follow. 3 min read · 5 days ago--Listen. Share. One of the primary advantages of federalism is that it accommodates ... Essay on Federalism: Advantages and Disadvantages Federalism, as a form of government, has its advantages and disadvantages. Supporters of federalism state that this form of government can be viewed as the most suitable form to address the interests and needs of diverse groups of people. State's laws guarantee the application of the best strategies to meet the needs of citizens, e.g. […] The Advantages and Disadvantages of Federalism: An Essay Federalism is a mixed method of government based on democratic rules that combines a general government with regional governments in one single political system. The two methods share an equal relationship, and the powers are divided between them equally. There are many different countries that use a federal system of government. Advantages and Disadvantages of Federalism The benefits of federalism are that it can encourage political participation, give states an incentive to engage in policy innovation, and accommodate diverse viewpoints across the country. The disadvantages are that it can set off a race to the bottom among states, cause cross-state economic and social disparities, and obstruct federal efforts ... Advantages And Disadvantages Of Federalism, Essay Sample 2023 Federalism is efficient since by distribution of power it is easy to determine places with different problems. This is an advantage to the national government as power running is efficient. Innovation in policy and law is encouraged since state government can easily apply the policies and those not undertaken can easily be noted. assignment essay homework paper phd report resume review speech thesis