Federalism in the U.S.: Understanding Power Sharing and Checks & Balances

Abstract

Instructor’s Name The federal system of government sees political authority divided into two autonomous sets of government, the national and state, which operate in a democracy. The constitution stipulates that the federal government exercises jurisdiction over the whole nation while the states exercise power within their territories. Some of the best countries in the world, such as the United States, Russia, Canada, Argentina, India, and Brazil, are organized on a federal basis; however, various processes and political structures differ (Stepan, 2005). Some of the federal government's eminent functions are regulating interstate commerce, declaring war, foreign relations, interstate commerce, taxes, establishing a uniform law of naturalization, and foreign trade. Taxes are regulated between the state and national governments t prevent conflict. The states make laws and regulations that govern their territories. The states and national governments also harmonized in spending and borrowing money. One of the most distinctive features of the federal government is power distribution. This system defines the scope, limitations, and powers of the different levels of government. Power is shared among the three arms of government, the executive, judiciary, and legislature, and each functions differently under the constitution. The constitution is the supreme law that prevents conflict between the levels of government. Another feature of the federal government is an independent judiciary. The judgments and the interpretation of the law ought to be made independently without the influence of other arms of government; the distinctiveness of federalism is when it is made to interpret the law and solve any conflict independently. The judiciary is a peacemaker. Furthermore, in case of conflict in any arms of government, it acts as a peacemaker. In federalism, the constitution is the supreme law of the land and above the state...