Discussion of the benefits and disadvantages to federalism. What are the differences between a nation-centered system of federalism and other systems of federalism, as well as what is its constitutional basis?
Federalism has advantages in that it allows local governments to deal with regional issues and respond quicker than national governments. The national government can also ensure that local governments don’t abuse their powers, and vice versa. The “laboratories for democracy” referred to in question 9 are created by Federalism. It encourages greater participation in the democratic process. Federalism has many disadvantages, but I think the main one is communication. Federalism is a system where multiple levels of the government must communicate. This can cause confusion. There isn’t one policy that applies to all nations. In America, there are over 50 policies (51 with Puerto Rico included) covering different issues. In the case of controversial issues such a same-sex wedding recognition, different policies create problems.
The voters are directly involved in the decision-making process at all levels. In a system where the central government is chosen by the voters, who then select the regional governments, this differs from other systems. In a federated system, voters elect independent governments that then elect the central government. In a federal government, voters have the option to choose any level of government, including regional and national.
Federalism’s constitutional foundation is heavily influenced by the experience of its founders in other government systems. The central government under the Articles of Confederation was not strong enough to handle crises, especially economic crises. Due to the widespread dislike of a unitary government, it was discarded. A representative system, where citizens vote at all levels, was chosen.
Discussion of how to regulate elections based on the political culture in place.
Traditionalist states tend to have stricter voting laws. The voting laws of traditionalistic states are usually stricter. Texas, for instance, has recently changed its election laws. To maintain their hierarchy, they have made it harder to vote for minorities. Since the repealed VRA, this trend has been more apparent in the South. North Dakota is the opposite in this moralistic division. Election Day allows anyone to register and vote. Moralistic states have more voting rights than traditionalistic.
Discussion of the impact of direct democracy on a country’s legislative system.
Direct democracy is possible through the use of referendums and initiatives. This allows the people to reverse the laws passed by the state legislatures. It could be a good thing or a bad thing. I remember how people in our district reacted when we voted to add fluoride water. People voted for it because they thought that this was a good idea, and the government wasn’t doing it. These processes, as in California, can hinder a state’s ability to legislate. The voters decided to limit the property tax and make it harder for the state of California to raise taxes. The state was financially hurt by this proposition, which wasn’t repealed until just recently. In the end, direct democracy is an alternative to state legislatures that allows the people to decide what they want without having to wait for a long session.
What role does public opinion play in a state’s political culture?
The political culture in a particular state has a direct impact on public opinion. Different cultures will have different opinions about government. In traditionalistic cultures, government will be viewed as a negative force. In individualistic societies, government is more viewed as a tool for achieving a particular goal. This will be reflected in public opinion. Due to the hierarchical culture of a traditionalistic society, the public’s opinion will be influenced by the policies of candidates if they stray from the norm.
Discuss the role that governors assume and their formal and informal powers. How can governors leverage informal power to achieve their legislative goals?
The governor plays several roles at the state-level. A governor plays several different roles at the State level.
A Governor has two types of powers: formal and informal. Informal power is not a direct power, but comes from being a Governor. The Governor can bring certain issues to the attention of legislators or convince them to vote for a particular thing.
In order to get legislators on board with a governor, they must feel that their bill stands a good chance of being eliminated.
Governors can push legislation through informal means, most notably their political influence. As they are party leaders, they can influence their members. They can give favors to legislators or assist in fundraising. In the end, a governor’s success is enhanced if he or she cooperates with the legislative body.
How have the roles of state attorneys-general and lieutenant Governors changed? Why has this office gained more political power?
Governors are more politically active. They have to handle regional and international issues in addition to state-related issues. As a result, the role of lieutenant Governors and Attorneys General has changed. They are now expected to be more involved in state government. In the past, both offices were seen as jokes, but with their increased responsibilities, they are now a stepping-stone for state politics.
Discuss the comparative approach and how it relates to the study local and state politics. Do states make a good comparative unit?
Comparative method is used for comparing and contrasting things. It’s used to discover why states act differently. States are good for comparison, but I think you can get more specific. You can get more accurate data the “lower” down you go. You can get more accurate information if you study multiple cities within a county and then the rest of counties in the state.
Discuss the significance of political cultures. Compare and contrast political culture’s three main categories.
The political culture is a way to get a feel for a state’s politics. It can tell us if a person is likely to vote, their political views, and the way they run their country. Three different political cultures exist: Individualistic, Traditionalistic and Moralistic. The moralistic state is generally located in northern Europe, with a Scandinavian genealogy. Individualistic countries are located in the North East. Traditionalistic countries are found in the South. They have “hands-off’ governments.
Moralist states value community more than individualism, the government is seen as a positive influence, and amateurs are more involved in politics. Individualistic states tend to be more utilitarian. Government is seen as a way to benefit individuals, and dirty politics are more acceptable. Traditionalistic state are hierarchical. Government is seen as an instrument to keep hierarchy.
I think that traditionalistic and amoralistic states are the most distant. Moralistics is in favor of political participation and traditionalistics is against it. Individualistic states are somewhere between traditionalistic and moralistic states. They tend to be more cynical about politics.
Explain why US Supreme Court Judge Louis Brandeis called the states “laboratories in democracy”
They are innovators in policy. Colorado and Washington, for instance, have legalized marijuana. We wouldn’t expect this to happen at a national level until it has been proven that it works. States are able to experiment much more than the federal level. State legislatures are much more likely to pass controversial bills than the federal government. Arizona has all sorts of ridiculous bills. In the end, states are “purer” forms of democracy because they allow for more experimentation.
Devolution is a concept that states, due to the inactivity of federal government and specifically congress, have assumed a greater role in policymaking. States now have a greater responsibility in implementing policy than they did in the past. States can now become the “laboratories of Democracy” that have been mentioned. The federal gave the states the power to make these decisions. They would not have ever been possible at the national level.
