Federalism is a system of government in which power is divided between a national (federal) government and various regional (state) governments. This division of power is intended to protect the people by ensuring that no single entity has complete control, thus preventing tyranny and allowing for more localized governance that can be more responsive to the needs of the people.
The Tenth Amendment to the United States Constitution addresses the principle of federalism. It states that the powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people. This amendment emphasizes the federal structure by reserving unspecified powers to the states or the people.
The national government is also commonly referred to as the federal government or the central government.
The Constitution specifically grants several powers to the national government, known as enumerated powers. These include the power to coin money, regulate interstate and foreign commerce, establish post offices, maintain armed forces, declare war, and conduct foreign affairs.
States have powers that are not specifically granted to the federal government by the Constitution, known as reserved powers. These include powers such as establishing local governments, conducting elections, and regulating intrastate commerce. States also have the power to establish schools and manage education systems.
Powers shared between the federal and state governments are known as concurrent powers. These include the power to maintain law and order, levy taxes, borrow money, and provide for the general welfare.
- Maintain law and order: Shared
- Establish Post Office: Federal
- Coin Money: Federal
- Establish schools: State
- Establish foreign policy: Federal
- STAAR Test: State
- U.S. Border Patrol: Federal
- Arrest Criminals: Shared
- Texas State Troops: State
- FBI: Federal
- Provide for general welfare: Shared
- Hidalgo County Courthouse: State
- U.S. Supreme Court: Federal
- Social Security: Federal
- University of Texas: State
The system of federalism is based on the Tenth Amendment. It creates a system of government in which the federal and state governments share power. The power to declare war on another country is an example of a federal power. States have the power to establish schools such as PSJA ISD. Federalism requires the national and state governments to share power. Federalism protects the people from a strong national government because the states limit the authority of the federal government.