ABSTRACT
This chapter defines federalism and then examines it as outlined in the Constitution and how it has developed over the years. It examines the dynamic and changing nature of the federal structure. A series of Supreme Court decisions and public policies have made our government system far different from that envisioned by the framers of this country’s Constitution. Federalism is a political system in which governmental powers are shared between a general government with nationwide responsibilities and nationwide powers and decentralized regional governments with local responsibilities and local powers in their respective regions. The federal structure should be flexible, too, according to the framers. National policy is the same for everyone, but state and local policy vary widely by region. Policy diversity also minimizes policy conflict. If groups fail to pass their programs in the federal government, they can try again in the state or local governments, thus minimizing pressure on the national government for action.
