University:
California State University, Northridge
Course:
POLS 155 | American Political Institutions
Academic year:

2024
Views:

72

Pages:

26
Author:

Netzkaterau8

Chapter 3: Federalism and the Separation of Powers On questions of the separation of powers, the framers of the Constitution looked primarily to Montesquieu, who argued for a strict separation of the functions of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches. Some Antifederalists objected that, by making the American vice president both a member of the executive branch and president of the Senate, the Constitution violated this central principle of the separation of powers. Antifederalists believed that the states (former colonies) were, to a degree, independent entities that deserved equal representation as states. This was achieved in the Senate. Viewing the Constitution’s vice president in light of federalism, Antifederalists also objected that, in cases of tie votes, the vice president’s state would have an additional vote and thus an unequal advantage in the Senate. This debate exemplifies two salient issues that help us to understand late 18th century politics: 1. The concept of the separation of powers was understood to demand a strict separation in the functions of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of government. 2. The relative strength of the states was at the heart of many of the political battles of the time. Federalism and the American Founding The balance of power between the central government and the states was at the heart of the constitutional struggle between the Federalists and the Antifederalists. What the Federalists Advocated - a powerful central government - government “filtered” from popular control - a potentially expansive central government that could govern a large country What the Antifederalists Advocated - the retention of state sovereignty and strength - more popular control of state-run governments - fidelity to traditional notions of republicanism Although the Federalists won the struggle over ratification, the federal balance of power remained contested and paradoxical and has been at the heart of struggles throughout American history, such as: 1. the ability of states to “nullify” federal laws; 2. the Civil War; 3. the power of the central government in the New Deal; 4. the “rights” of states versus the rights of citizens in the civil rights movement. Federalism in the Constitution Consistent with the framers’ desire to divide the powers of government, the Constitution’s federal division of power can be understood as an attempt to limit the power of the national government. With expressed powers, the Constitution grants specific powers to the national government and reserves the rest for the states. National Government Powers  expressed powers – collect taxes – coin money – declare war  implied powers – “necessary and proper” powers the national government gains due to their implication in the Constitution State Government Powers  reserved powers – “police powers” (the powers to regulate the health, safety, and morals of its citizens)  Tenth Amendment Tenth Amendment “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.” Stages of Federalism There have been four stages of federalism throughout American history. 1789 1. “Dual Federalism” 1937 2. “Cooperative Federalism” 1960 3. “Regulated Federalism” 1970 1990 4. “New Federalism” Stages of Federalism: Stage 1 STAGE 1: “Dual Federalism” (1789–1937) 1. Central government focused on promotion of commerce and distribution of resources. 2. States retained most remaining powers. Stage 1: Dual Federalism Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution set forth several powers of the national government, including:  commerce clause  “necessary and proper” clause  McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)  Gibbons v. Ogden (1824) The “dual federalism” stage allowed for a relatively clear delineation of power between national, state, and local governments. Stages of Federalism: Stage 2 STAGE 2: “Cooperative Federalism” (1937–?) Franklin Roosevelt’s New Deal sparked a revolution in national policy making and an increased role for the national government, altering the balance of federal power. The New Deal’s expansion of the national government and the executive branch further empowered the national government at the expense of state autonomy. Under “cooperative federalism,” the national government ensures state cooperation with federal policies by offering grants-in-aid. Block grants are given to states for general purposes and allow state officials greater discretion over how funds will be spent. Categorical grants are given to states for more specific purposes, and most of the discretion remains in the hands of federal officials and officeholders. Stages of Federalism: Stage 3 STAGE 3: “Regulated Federalism” (1960s–?) As state and local governments came to depend on grant-in-aid support, the national government further intervened in state government decision making by threatening to withhold such grants. This is also known as “coercive federalism.” Stage 3: Regulated Federalism To regulate speed limits within states, the national government threatens to withhold federal transportation dollars, thus coercing states to comply with federal mandates. Stages of Federalism: Stage 4 STAGE 4: “New Federalism” (1969–?) The waning in some respects of Franklin Roosevelt’s New Deal coalition and programs sparked a counterfederal trend, known as “new federalism”, that began to return discretion to the state and local governments. Stage 4: New Federalism The “new federalism” trend of returning discretion to the states began in the executive branch as the Nixon, Carter, and Reagan administrations gave states a larger role in administering federal policies. In the 1990s, both Congress and the federal courts joined the “new federalism” revolution. The Separation of Powers If federalism separates government power between the national, state, and local governments, the separation of powers divides government power between the legislative, executive, and judicial branches.    LEGISLATIVE – Congress – House and Senate EXECUTIVE – president – bureaucracy JUDICIAL – Supreme Court – other federal courts James Madison believed that a chief goal of the Constitution’s separation of powers was to overcome legislative dominance. The Constitution as an Institutional Solution 1. bicameralism 2. the creation of a strong executive to counter Congress The Costs of Divided Government Power Through federalism and the separation of powers, the Constitution sets up conflicts which act as barriers to collective action. Divided government, when one party controls the White House and the other party controls at least one chamber of Congress, exacerbates the tensions between the branches. Under these circumstances, when collective action is necessary and desirable, the government must overcome these barriers. The Challenges of Divided Power THE CHALLENGES OF FEDERALISM National, state, and local governments must overcome their natural conflicts to work together to meet terrorist threats. THE CHALLENGES OF THE SEPARATION OF POWERS The legislative, executive, and judicial branches must overcome the natural struggle between their various “ambitions” to act collectively.

Federalism and the Separation of Powers

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