Concepts of Federalism

Jamie MonoganUniversity of GeorgiaSeptember 3, 2014

Objectives

By the end of this meeting, participants should be able to:•Explain how a federal system works.•Describe the role of the national, state, and local governments in Georgia politics.

What Is Federalism?

• Federalism–System of shared powers between

two or more levels of government–Lower level of government enjoys

constitutional protection from national government–National government can compel

action–Example: United States under the

Constitution of 1789

Contrast: Confederation

• System of shared powers between two or more levels of government

• Lower-level governments retain sovereignty

• National government cannot compel action

• Example: United States under Articles of Confederation

Contrast: Unitary System

• All power centralized with the national government

• Lower-level governments (if they exist) only have powers if the central government delegates

• Example: United Kingdom–Power centralized in London–Powers delegated to subnational

parliaments in Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales

Centralization of Political Control

Dynamics of FederalismWhich best describes the U.S. system?

• Dual Federalism–Separate spheres of power

• Cooperative Federalism–Shared spheres of power

• Intergovernmentalism–Mixture of dual and cooperative

federalism–Shared spheres in particular policy areas

Responsibility of Governments

Limits of Federalism

• The Constitution sets some clear limits–States cannot coin money or negotiate

treaties–Supremacy clause holds that national laws

trump state laws if in conflict• The Constitution also creates ambiguities–Necessary and proper clause–Commerce clause

• Court interpretation has changed over time

–Tenth Amendment

State Governments

• Most are similar in structure to federal government–Bicameral (Exception: Nebraska)–Gubernatorial powers vary by state–Professionalization of legislatures

varies by state–Key distinction is presence of direct

democracy—initiative, referendum, recall

Local Governments

• More variation than state governments–Mayoral—large cities, mayor has

considerable power–Council-manager—small-to-

medium cities–Commission—declining in number

due to collective action problems

Assignments

• For Friday: Read Bullock & Gaddie, Chapter 8

• For Monday: Read Kollman, pp. 82-99

• Chapter 4 concept map exercise due at 11:59pm in one week (Wed., Sept. 10).–Login to ELC to complete.