When the federal government was first created, the intent of the Founders was to have a national government share power throughout the branches of government. However, some say federalism is dead. Many believe that the federal system is ineffective and inefficient in the way it deals with the nation’s issues. However, in the United States, the federal system is a necessary system because of the diversity of opinions, the concept of laboratory of democracy, and protection against tyranny. Because the United States is so vast, there is bound to be extreme diversity. Especially in differing ideas. How is a unitary system supposed to work when there are so many people with different perspectives? It simply can’t work because there are far too
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Raich, addressed the need for state power. California was the first state to legalize the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes. In 1996, the Compassionate Use Act was passed to guarantee that severely ill residents have access to marijuana for medicinal purposes. It also created an exemption from criminal prosecution of physicians and patients. Litigants Angel Raich and Diane Monson, both California residents, suffered from serious medical conditions and marijuana provides the only effective treatment. But because of the federal Controlled Substance Act, the Drug Enforcement Administration arrived at Monson’s house and seized all of her marijuana. The respondents challenged the enforcement of the federal law which resulted in a ruling that the California law exceeded congressional authority of the Commerce Clause because it was a local state activity (Woll). Because the incident was a local state activity, it exceeded the Commerce Clause, the national government could not intervene. This is significant because it provides further need of federalism. If the national government controlled everything, it’s as if the government is taking away the rights of the people. The states would have no say over what the citizen’s needs and rights are. The due process and equal protection clause of the 14th amendment states the national government cannot take away the rights and liberties of the people. Therefore, federalism is needed to protect the …show more content…
The centralized state of Sudan attempted to centralize its government by passing a Arabisation and Islamisation policy for the entire nation. But it ultimately failed and a rebellion ensued which decentralized the nation because the different regions and tribes had differing perspectives (Sudan). Essentially, the unitary system did not work because of Sudan’s diversity. The unitary system in Sudan caused disunity which led to rebellion and chaos. Sudan is a powerful example of why federalism is needed in a diverse country like the United
Raich, addressed the need for state power. California was the first state to legalize the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes. In 1996, the Compassionate Use Act was passed to guarantee that severely ill residents have access to marijuana for medicinal purposes. It also created an exemption from criminal prosecution of physicians and patients. Litigants Angel Raich and Diane Monson, both California residents, suffered from serious medical conditions and marijuana provides the only effective treatment. But because of the federal Controlled Substance Act, the Drug Enforcement Administration arrived at Monson’s house and seized all of her marijuana. The respondents challenged the enforcement of the federal law which resulted in a ruling that the California law exceeded congressional authority of the Commerce Clause because it was a local state activity (Woll). Because the incident was a local state activity, it exceeded the Commerce Clause, the national government could not intervene. This is significant because it provides further need of federalism. If the national government controlled everything, it’s as if the government is taking away the rights of the people. The states would have no say over what the citizen’s needs and rights are. The due process and equal protection clause of the 14th amendment states the national government cannot take away the rights and liberties of the people. Therefore, federalism is needed to protect the …show more content…
The centralized state of Sudan attempted to centralize its government by passing a Arabisation and Islamisation policy for the entire nation. But it ultimately failed and a rebellion ensued which decentralized the nation because the different regions and tribes had differing perspectives (Sudan). Essentially, the unitary system did not work because of Sudan’s diversity. The unitary system in Sudan caused disunity which led to rebellion and chaos. Sudan is a powerful example of why federalism is needed in a diverse country like the United