Question

The Founders of the United States gave much consideration to the division of responsibility between federal and state governments. They strove to strike a balance between an overbearing central government (such as the British government that had ruled them before the Revolution) and an overreliance on local governments (such as the structure of US government under the Articles of Confederation). Many citizens today continue to debate the correct balance between federal and state government.

Answer 1

Question: The Founders of the United States gave much consideration to the division of responsibility between federal and state governments. They strove to strike a balance between an overbearing central government (such as the British government that had ruled them before the Revolution) and an over reliance on local governments (such as the structure of US government under the Articles of Confederation). Many citizens today continue to debate the correct balance between federal and state government.

What is your position? Name some areas of conflict where you think the powers are improperly balanced. Name some areas where you think the balance works well.

Explanation:

When the framers designed the US Constitution they did not give the Federal government much power so power was balanced between States and Central Government. But the Federal government has gained more and more power over time. At the same time, the States were restricted over the years, when the Framers did not imagine doing so. Both of these situations can be good or bad.

For example, making the States respect the Bill of Rights was a good thing when individuals had their basic rights stripped on a State level. So making only the Federal government respect the Bill of Rights did not make much sense. At the same time, the Federal Government has shown much power that was not designed and showed a few issues over the years, especially with the Executive Branch that had in a few opportunities overstepped its powers.