Federalism

Under federalism, the principle of limited government was achieved by dividing authority between the central government and the individual states. The federal (national) government has powers over areas of wide concern. For example, it has the power to control communication among states, borrow money, provide for the national defense, and declare war.

At each level, in state and Union, there is a constitution which defines and limits political power, and which provides safeguards against tyranny and means for popular participation. In each state, power is divided between three agencies, with law-making power given to a legislature (usually of two houses, elected for fixed terms), an executive (the governor), and finally the judges of the State Supreme Court. Each state is divided into counties, which have their own powers, and there are also special-purpose areas for some functions of local interest. Within the counties the towns have their own local governments, mainly as ‘cities’. City government, with elected mayor, council and judges, reproduces the state pattern on a smaller scale. Each of the fifty states has its own peculiarities, and one cannot attempt to describe particular system one by one. But one can say that all state and city governments provide for election of legislature and executives for fixed terms, and all have devices for ensuring that each of the three elements of government exercises a check on the other two.

There are certain powers, called concurrent powers, which both the federal and state government share. Examples include the power to tax, set up courts, and charter banks.

Дата добавления: 2015-07-20