Handout B: Federalism: For or Against?
Federalism divides the powers of government between the national and state governments, giving certain powers to the national government and leaving all other powers to the states.
Directions: Review the statements below and, on the next page, categorize them in the three columns in the table.
| Argues in favor of Federalism | Both/Neither? | Argues against Federalism |
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- Throughout U.S. history, states have a long history of violating the rights of their citizens.
- Throughout world history, national governments have a long history of violating the rights of their citizens.
- State governments are closer to the people and can make laws that allow the people there to govern themselves.
- Different laws across the country make it difficult for people who move from state to state.
- The division of power in the Constitution lets the national government do its job while leaving the many states free to rule themselves.
- If some states have education policies that promote better outcomes, it leaves people in other states with a disadvantage.
- Individuals are free to move to states where they like the laws better.
- After the Civil War, every Southern state, as well as many in the North, passed Jim Crow laws.
- The federal government did very little to stop every southern state, as well as many in the North, from passing Jim Crow laws.