Federalism
Hamilton's political doctrine
Federalism is a system of government in which power is divided between a central authority and constituent political units—states, provinces, or regions.
The United States, Germany, and Australia are federal systems; France and Japan are not.
The Constitution established federalism as a compromise between national unity and state sovereignty.
In American political discourse, federalism often signals support for limiting central government power in favor of state autonomy.
Change to official text
- ratificationFormal approval by authority
- framersThose who construct frames
- founding fathersMale originators of institutions
- antifederalistsConstitution's early American opponents
enumerated powers · supremacy clause · necessary and proper · reserved powers · concurrent powers · constitutional convention · preamble · bill of rights
Provincial governmental autonomy
- autonomyIndependent decision-making capacity
- self-governanceIndependent management of affairs
- home ruleDelegated local autonomy
- jurisdictionLegal authority's scope
nullification · interposition · secession · self-determination · reserved powers · police powers · localism · regionalism
Constitutional distribution of authority
- checks and balancesConstitutional power-limiting framework
- bicameralismLegislature with two houses
- intergovernmentalBetween or among governments
- power-sharingJointly held governmental authority
marble cake · picket fence · devolution · decentralization · subsidiarity · delegation
Lawmaking governmental branch
- executiveSenior organizational leader
- judiciaryLaw-interpreting government branch
- parliamentNational legislative assembly
- senateLegislative governing body
state governments · local governments · governor · municipal · county · administration · bureaucracy · elections
Formal union of parties
- coalitionTemporary alliance for action
- unificationMerging into one entity
- compactTightly packed together
- leagueAssociation or distance unit
partnership · bloc · association · integration · amalgamation · commonwealth · supranational · interstate
amendment
Change to official text
- ratificationFormal approval by authority
- framersThose who construct frames
- founding fathersMale originators of institutions
antifederalists · enumerated powers · supremacy clause · necessary and proper · reserved powers · concurrent powers · constitutional convention · preamble · bill of rights · framing
states' rights
Provincial governmental autonomy
- autonomyIndependent decision-making capacity
- self-governanceIndependent management of affairs
- home ruleDelegated local autonomy
jurisdiction · nullification · interposition · secession · self-determination · reserved powers · police powers · localism · regionalism · provincialism
separation of powers
Constitutional distribution of authority
- checks and balancesConstitutional power-limiting framework
- bicameralismLegislature with two houses
- intergovernmentalBetween or among governments
power-sharing · marble cake · picket fence · devolution · decentralization · subsidiarity · delegation
legislature
Lawmaking governmental branch
- executiveSenior organizational leader
- judiciaryLaw-interpreting government branch
- parliamentNational legislative assembly
senate · state governments · local governments · governor · municipal · county · administration · bureaucracy · elections · representation
alliance
Formal union of parties
- coalitionTemporary alliance for action
- unificationMerging into one entity
- compactTightly packed together
league · partnership · bloc · association · integration · amalgamation · commonwealth · supranational · interstate
Federalismcentralism
Central authority doctrine
centralized government · centralization · absolute monarchy · totalitarianism
Federalismcentralism
Central authority doctrine
states' rights · centralized government · localism · decentralization · regional autonomy
Federalismseparatism
Advocacy for political breakaway
secession · balkanization · disunion · independence movements · sovereignty
- The Federalist PapersEssays urging ratification, 1787-1788
- Federalist PapersFounding-era persuasive essays
- The FederalistEssays advocating constitutional ratification
- Federalist PartyEarly American political organization
federalist, federalists, federalize, federalized, federalizing, federalization