In+Depth-2

//Pleading the tenth: with the demise of liberalism, can federalism be brought back to life?// by Pete Du Pont discusses how the elasticity of the tenth amendment of the Constitution and the Supreme Court’s interpretation of it in Wickard v. Fillburn, Gibbons v. Ogden, and United States v. Lopez have caused a demise in liberalism, while asking if federalism can come back to life even though a loss of the individual is occurring. In Wickard v. Fillburn and Gibbons v. Ogden, the Supreme Court allowed for the powers of Congress to be expanded. Through this Du Pont is showing that liberalism (the rights of the individual) is being reduced. However there have been recent revivals of the Tenth Amendment and liberalism through United States v. Lopez, which the Supreme Court established limits on Congress’s Commerce Clause authority. Finally Du Pont alerts that this could be false hope because he doesn’t see the Supreme Court committed to federalism. We should care about this because it directly impacts our lives. Federalism involves shared sovereignty between states and a federal government. This sovereignty is meant to be equal, involving checks and balances between the powers. However, as the federal government gains power, the states are deprived of it. If this continues for a long period of time, the United States may end up with a corrupt government, similar to the monarchy of Great Britain. Therefore, this issue pertains to all of the citizens, as their power is being deprived.