Federalism was established in the United States by the Constitution of 1787. The Constitution created a strong federal government but also gave states a significant amount of power. This balance of power has been maintained over time, and it has allowed the United States to function effectively as a large and diverse nation.
Here are some of the key features of American federalism:
* Dual sovereignty: The federal government and state governments are both sovereign entities. This means that they each have the power to make laws, levy taxes, and enforce their own laws.
* Limited powers: The federal government only has the powers that are specifically granted to it by the Constitution. All other powers are reserved to the states.
* Supremacy clause: The Constitution states that the federal government's laws are supreme over state laws. This means that if there is a conflict between a federal law and a state law, the federal law will prevail.
* Separation of powers: The federal government and state governments are separated into three branches: the executive, legislative, and judicial branches. This separation of powers helps to prevent any one branch from becoming too powerful.
* Checks and balances: The federal government and state governments have a system of checks and balances that allows each branch to limit the power of the other branches. This system helps to ensure that no one branch becomes too powerful.
American federalism is a complex system of government, but it has proven to be effective in governing a large and diverse nation. By dividing power between the federal government and state governments, federalism allows for both national unity and local autonomy.