In+Depth

Federalism is a form of government in which sovereignty is shared between separate national and state governments. Examples of this type of government include those in the United States, Canada, Australia, and Brazil. The Constitution set up this type of government in the United States in place of the Articles of Confederation. Most countries set up this form of government, instead of a confederacy or a unitary system, to allay fears of tyranny or anarchy. Two types of federalism exist: dual federalism and cooperative federalism. In dual federalism the national and state governments are co-equals, but sovereign. In this theory, the Constitution is interpreted narrowly. However, cooperative federalism asserts that the national government is supreme over the states. Both forms of federalism have existed at some point in America.
 * Overview: **


 * Why Should You Care? **

Because federalism is the type of government in America, it is surely important that American people care about what it means. It is also important because there are two types, and they can impact the nation’s policies (and thus, our lives) in very different ways. If dual federalism is more predominant, that means that the states have gained power, and so they can influence policies so that laws are more individual depending on the state. If cooperative federalism is more predominant, that means the national government has more power than the states, and therefore it can enforce //equal// standards among states.