Federalism

What is Federalism?

Strayer University

Debra Gordon

To fulfill the requirements for POL110

Professor

August 10, 2014

Abstract

Federalism is an ideal structure of government for a nation whose citizens are divided by specific values or interests such as culture, distance or resources. In fact, federalism is a governmental system with different levels that are supreme or largely sovereign in different areas. In this essay, the main idea of federalism is described. In addition, advantages and disadvantages of federalism are identified throughout the essay. Moreover, the problems of government of a nation divided by culture, distance or resources are discussed. It is concluded that federal systems ought to distribute a balance of power between the general and constituent governments in order to fulfill different level requirements.

Provide three (3) examples of how federalism has evolved from its origin to the American political system in place today.

Federalism refers to the form of government that unites separate political entities or states within a single national system. However, federalism has a principle which allows each political entity or state to retain its independence. There are a number of countries that adopt the idea of federalism to form their government. A state that follows the federal system is known as federation. In fact, a federation is a political union of several states, by which effect is given to a certain state or stage of political thought and feeling. Federalism can be seen in a number of ways.

First and foremost, federalism has an internal structure which called the Senate. This chamber comprises an equal number of senators from each State, regardless of population. For example, in Malaysia, the Senate (Dewan Negara), the upper house of Parliament, was designed to represent the states and to be bulwark against federal encroachment of state rights. The Senate consists of 69 members, two elected from each state by the...