Federalism

             Globalizing and localizing forces at work in the world today are generating a need for a new solution to meet the demands of both. The traditional sovereignty of the nation-state is being corroded by increasing interdependence with other countries and by internal factions struggling for independence. Government power is undermined by the apolitical objectives of transnational corporations, causing world leaders to scramble in an effort to dictate some limits on market absolutism. International confederations of economic and military nature increasingly characterize the global landscape, as they try to define and enforce international law, both contractual and criminal. Federalism is becoming a more popular form of government for states because it appeals to the desire of groups to achieve greater efficiency and retain some regional sovereignty at the same time. Entering into a federal arrangement can help overcome threat of tyranny of the majority and prevent the concentration of power in the hands of an elite by separating powers between more than one level of government and providing a system of checks and balances. People feel more connected to their government when it is closer to them, but they are also protected by the larger framework guarding individual rights and freedoms.
             A federal system, as defined by the literature is one in which more than one level of government exits and power is distributed between these levels in such a way that neither government can unilaterally dissolve the other. Smaller constituent governments are contained within a larger, over-riding, central governments and are usually connected by some form of written constitution. Power can be distributed in a centralized manner where the balance of power is with the national government or in a decentralized model emphasizing regionalism and constituent governments. As of 1996, 23 federations exist globally including the United States (1789), ...

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Federalism. (1969, December 31). In MegaEssays.com. Retrieved 16:55, March 28, 2024, from https://www.megaessays.com/viewpaper/91234.html