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US FederalismFederalism is a system of government in which power is divided between national and state governments, and it exists in roughly two dozen countries worldwide. It differs from unitary systems, in which provinces, states, or regions can have their powers changed, revoked, or overruled by a central authority. Disagreements over federalism defined politics in the early American republic, with figures such as Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson offering competing visions of how power should be divided. Following the failure of the Articles of Confederation, which had created a national government too weak to function effectively, the Constitution established a federal system with a stronger central authority while preserving the states as autonomous centers of power. It maintains this balance by specifying federal responsibilities, giving Congress the flexibility to act when necessary, and leaving most day-to-day governance to the states. Throughout American history, federal power has expanded relative to the states, primarily through Supreme Court rulings and national responses to crises. For example, the Civil War and the Great Depression led to significant expansions of national authority. Today, federalism debates play out in clashes among federal, state, and local governments over issues like abortion and immigration.Explore US Federalism

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The Iroquois Confederacy's political structure may have shaped the US ConstitutionCenturies before the US existed, six Indigenous nations—the Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga, Seneca, and Tuscarora—united under a shared constitution known as the Great Law of Peace. Some historians argue that the framework of federalism and representative councils influenced the American founders. HISTORY The president can federalize state National Guard units during national emergenciesWhile the governor usually commands their state's National Guard, the president can assume control—federalizing the guard—under laws like the Insurrection Act or Title 10. Once federalized, troops operate under the US military chain of command. Just Security Faithless electors have never changed the outcome of a US presidential electionOccasionally, Electoral College members vote against their state's popular choice—known as "faithless electors." Though these rare defections have drawn attention and prompted new state laws, none have ever altered the final result of a presidential race. Federalist Society John Marshall strengthened the Supreme Court and national authorityAs chief justice, John Marshall established the principle of judicial review. He reinforced federal supremacy in key cases, defining the Supreme Court as a powerful arbiter between states and the national government under the US federal system. The Federalist Society The Articles of Confederation were not a federal systemRatified in 1781, the Articles of Confederation left the states sovereign and independent, denied the national government power to tax or regulate commerce, and forced Congress to act through the states—exposing the limits of confederation and paving the way for US federalism. Center for the Study of Federalism The Bill of Rights was a compromise between Federalists and anti-FederalistsDuring the ratification process of the US Constitution, anti-Federalists demanded that a Bill of Rights be included to guard against federal overreach, while the Federalists initially opposed it. The Federalists ultimately committed to its inclusion to secure support for ratification. University of Wisconsin-Madison The United States is the world's oldest continuously operating federal system under a written constitutionThe US pioneered federalism in the late 18th century, and many countries later adopted federal systems to manage conflict and share power. This resource features interactive maps that trace the spread of federal systems worldwide from 1900 to the present. Federalism Index Courts referee federalism disputes between Congress and the statesModern federalism is primarily worked out through litigation. The Supreme Court decides disputes in written opinions that explain when federal law preempts state authority, how far Congress's powers extend, and when states may resist. US Supreme Court Colonial self-rule fostered strong autonomy and distrust of centralized powerAmerican colonies were governed through a patchwork of different systems, ranging from Crown-run to locally controlled. Broad local autonomy—often followed by sudden imperial crackdowns—taught colonial leaders to prize home rule and distrust distant centralized power, attitudes that later informed US federalism. Americana Corner The Kennan Telegram shaped early US Cold War strategyIn 1946, diplomat George Kennan sent a long telegram from Moscow warning that the Soviet Union was inherently expansionist. His analysis laid the groundwork for the US policy of containment that defined the early Cold War. Truman Library Institute The National Guard serves both state governors and presidentsRoughly 430,000 trained military personnel act as a strategic reserve for the US military, deployed domestically during natural disasters or unrest as well as overseas. It consists of the Army National Guard and the Air National Guard, overseen at the federal level by the National Guard Bureau. Council on Foreign Relations When a state’s minimum wage differs from the federal's, the higher number wins outBeing that the federal government hasn’t raised the minimum wage in over 15 years, some states have taken matters in their own hands. Economic Policy Institute

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The American Presidency