Search results
23 paź 2024 · 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. Learn more about the history and characteristics of federalism in this article.
In the United States, federalism is the constitutional division of power between U.S. state governments and the federal government of the United States. Since the founding of the country, and particularly with the end of the American Civil War, power shifted away from the states and toward the national government.
Federalism is a system of government that divides power between national and state levels. Learn how federalism evolved in the US, how it differs from unitary and confederal systems, and what are its advantages and disadvantages.
Federalism refers to the constitutional and political structure of the United States of America, according to which political power is divided among multiple levels of government: the national level of government (also referred to as the “federal” or “general” government) and that of the states.
Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and George Washington were advocates of the federal system. In their attempt to balance order with liberty, the Founders identified several reasons for creating a federalist government: to avoid tyranny. to allow more participation in politics.
Accordingly, federalism is a voluntary form of government and mode of governance that establishes unity while preserving diversity by constitutionally uniting separate political communities (e.g., the 13 original U.S. states) into a limited, but encompassing, political community (e.g., the United States) called a federal polity.
Learn how American federalism developed from colonial days to the Constitution of 1787, and how it serves as the basic organizing principle of American government. Explore the dynamic struggle between federal and state power, the prerevolutionary underpinnings, the impact of the Revolutionary War, and the failure of the Articles of Confederation.
