⇒ Political power is divided between the national (federal government) and the state governments, each having its own area of jurisdiction.
⇒ Allows diversity - the US is geographically vast, with a population of over 300 million, regions have distinct cultures (so something supported in 'bible belt' will not be popular in New England, for example)
⇒ Provides alternatives to federal policy (e.g. California proceeded with limiting carbon emissions, which went against federal policy. And New York and Californian governors have signalled intent to implement climate change regs, despite Trumps executive order to gut them)
⇒ States serve as policy laboratories - future national policies often tested at state level first (e.g. Massachusetts introduced mandatory health insurance and subsidies... Obama copied this)
⇒ Trains future leaders (Vice-President Pence, Bush jnr, and Reagan were all governors beforehand, which gives them a chance to try out policy.)
⇒ Provides support to vulnerable areas (e.g. States looked to the federal government during the Great Depression)
⇒ Protects Rights (Kennedy sent in National Guard to de-segregate southern schools and under Obama the federal govt sought to prevent the implementation of North Carolina Bathroom law)
⇒ The conservatives believe in federalism (they don’t like big government) - they believe that the federal government have had their powers over expanded during the last 7 decades
⇒ Legal complexity - state rules vary (e.g. assisted suicide is legal in Oregan)
⇒ Varying degree of standards (e.g. education standards are inconsistent; school dropout rates are far higher in Louisiana that Iowa)
⇒ Rights are not consistently applied (e.g. gay rights vary from state to state, as do social rights e.g. the minimum wage is higher in some states than others)
⇒ Economic costs - vast bureaucracies and civil servants which each state employ costs billions of dollars in salary
⇒ Next check out our notes on: