Written by William C. Duncan
January 28, 2025
A central feature of the United States Constitution is the principle of federalism, which apportions governing power to both federal and state governments. It constrains national power by specifically spelling out authority of national government and thus ruling out other, unenumerated, powers. This also means that most governmental authority would be exercised by authorities closest to the people being governed or by the people themselves.
Dividing authority in this way allows states to pursue different approaches to different concerns, providing practical knowledge to other states. Ultimately, it gives citizens the freedom to choose a state with policies more amenable to their beliefs by moving or joining with neighbors to effect a change. Divided authority also allows the state and national government to check overreach by the other that would diminish the rights of citizens.
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