...Federalism is also known as a division of governmental power. With Federalism all government offices work for the people and not one another. Created by our founding fathers this system was designed to ensure that all people of this country would be assured to the freedoms of which we hold so dear, but also to ensure that no one person could become a tyrant. On the other hand the federal government does have some powers over the States, and Cities, yet these are inherited as history has shown us giving states free range is not always the best idea. The civil war is a great example of where states wanting to succeed from the USG, allowing them to not adhere to any of the constitutional laws enacted by Congress, such as the abolition of slavery, and their desire to create their own currency. By spreading the power between the federal government, and local government the citizens are encouraged to stay active in their government, and the policies they put in to place. Some of the benefits of federalism includes a lot of which many people may take for granted. Our highway system is one that everyone benefits from. Even if they do not drive, any goods they may purchase from a store, was transported on these highways. If this was left up to the states to govern, then we could be driving on one side of the road in one state, and have to switch over to the other side when entering a different state. With our federal government financing our highway system they make sure that practically...
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...As transportation in America has continued to evolve and expand in America the transportation policy has lacked the same evolvement and growth. Faced with an ever growing population and an economy that depends on transportation more than ever, American transportation network is based on a policy that has not been significantly updated since the 1950’s. With a policy that is so out of date it has become increasingly hard to secure funding to maintain and build new roads, this is where the issue of federalism arrives. Working with the federal, state and local government there has to be a solution to the transportation policy. The Transportation Policy as we know it today started as the Interstate program according to Shirayanagi, H., & Kitamura, Y. (2011) “in 1956 also called the 1956 Federal-Aid Highway Act, appropriated $25 billion (about $197 billion in 2009 dollars) to build 41,000 miles of multi-lane, limited access highways.” (p.253) While it was done to connect states and make it easier for economic center to connect it helped develop travel within cities themselves. These highways were built with 90 percent federal funding the only problem was that the local government did not get any money to improve the transportation systems. Fast-forward to August 2005 according to Shirayanagi, H., & Kitamura, Y. (2011) “ the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: (SAFETEA-LU) which is our current transportation policy signed by President George W. Bush...
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...will be able to keep those plans. Tax credits will be issued to families and individuals that make less than four hundred percent below federal poverty line, who do not qualify for Medicaid. Also, there will be a requirement to health care insurances to cover reproduction preventatives for women without and fees or co-pays. Next, a brief history of the policy will be discussed (Obamacare, n/a.dd). A system of federalism is lacking in the Obamacare Policy. Federalism was created to balance the power between federal and state governments. Obamacare is lacking the governance of state and local entities, leaving the federal government as the sole power. The federal government is forcing an individual mandate to every individual to purchase health insurance, but legally is it the states that have the authority to make the final decisions on governmental programs. There is tension that if the states buck the federal government of the issue, they may lose federal funding for Medicaid. There are pros and cons to the new policy (Obamacare, 2010). There are several pros to Obamacare. It was created to reduce the overall health care deficit by having every individual care health insurance. This would promote health and be a preventive to the emergency room. Those who can afford insurance will be added to Medicaid or given a tax break to purchase insurance. Children can stay on their parent’s plans up to age twenty six and children with pre-existing conditions will not be denied...
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...significant repair to the United States healthcare since Medicare and Medicaid passed in 1965. In this paper, the key points that will be discussed are obamacare policy, it pros and cons, if it raises any issues with federalism and the policys effectiveness. Obamacare is aimed at helping the underinsured to gain insurance. With this plan everyone would have health insurance regardless of income, or anything that would stop the person from attaining health insurance. The Affordable Care Act is a watershed in U.S. public health policy. Through a series of extensions of, and revisions to, the multiple laws that together comprise the federal legal framework for the U.S. health-care system, the Act established the basic legal protections that until now have been absent: a near-universal guarantee of access to affordable health insurance coverage, from birth through retirement.(Rosenbaum, 2010) Obamacare is a name used by critics of President Obamas efforts to reform health care. Its a common term used to describe the Patient Protection and Affordable care Act of 2010. ObamaCare contains many benefits, especially for low and middle income families and businesses. ObamaCare also contains some obstacles for larger firm that dont insure their employees and certain aspects of the healthcare industry. The Pros and Cons boil down to this, Obamacare the average American has a lot to gain and little to lose, while some larger firms and consequently their employees may notice negative...
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...III) Articles of Confed a) Confederation b) Specific Terms c) General Results d) Shays Rebellion IV) Constitution a) 4 key debates B) Specific terms of the articles (about the national govt.) • Unicameral legislature • No power to tax • No power to raise army • No executive branch (could make laws but not enforce them) • No judicial branch • Unanimous vote needed to change Articles C) General results of the Articles • Weak and incomplete national govt. • Economic chaos o States fund the war by borrowing money from federal govt. o Govt. wants the money back o Economy dries up and leads to a “trade war” with competing interest o States taxes their own citizens since they can’t borrow money o People (mostly farmers) lose their possessions and property since they can’t pay taxes o Damages the economy even more since farm family is out of work • No sufficient national defense o Enemy 1 the British o French and the Spanish also potential threats o Native Indian tribes also potential threat • States are left largely on their own (13 separate states, no unity) D) Shay’s Rebellion 4 Key debates 1. Representation of the states (large population vs. small population) o States might be equal but not for individuals o Creates a Bicameral Legislation (2 houses) 1. Senate 2. House of reps (representation based on population) which is known as “the great compromise” o Defensive compromise; better at not getting stuff done than getting stuff done. 2. Slavery...
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...disagree with the “right” solution when it comes to Obama care, it is commonly agreed that there is a fundamental problem with the current healthcare system: nearly 50 million people in this nation are without insurance and those who are covered face high premiums with plans that do not cover the services they need. This current system is inefficient and therefore is poor quality and creates high cost. The ultimate goal of the legislation was to extend both private and public coverage to about 32 million people who were uninsured; to improve access to quality coverage for the uninsured; to improve how affordable coverage would be; and to ultimately reduce the overall growth in health care costs. Now for the pros and cons of this law, this was passed on June 29 2012. The pros of this law are that Patients with pre-existing conditions cannot be denied coverage by insurance companies, and companies can no longer drop someone once they get sick. This also means that if an insurance company denies someone coverage, that person can go to an external appeals process. “If the law is upheld, argued Verilli, “people with chronic conditions . . . will be unshackled from the disabilities that those diseases put on them and have the opportunity to enjoy the blessings of liberty.” (Huffman 2012) It is also cost effective; the number of bankruptcies caused by health-related...
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...Policy Making Obamacare The United States Government plays a big role in the policies or programs that the citizens can like or dislike but really don’t have the overall say. When it comes to the policies that get put into place not everyone is going to be happy with it. Sure, some policies will benefit some people more than others and some can just plain benefit the ones who run the country. Obamacare has some history behind the issues, benefits, and policies that will be placed on Americans to abide by. Here are some of the pros and cons of such a policy and how they weigh in weather or not if it is good or bad depending on how it affects you and your family. The Pros of Obamacare What greatly increases these conflict and debates are rooted in the constitutional framework of federalism, which is derived from the 10th Amendment. Federal health care policy “Obamacare” is one of these conflicting issues that have a significant federalism component that requires national, state, and local interaction. This has also leaded to a great deal of potential tension among different levels of government. Obamacare is an overall Medicaid expansion that is supposed to be one of the biggest milestones within healthcare reform by insuring up to 21 million Americans over the next decade. This expansion to Medicaid is supposed to provide the nation’s poorest with health coverage. “The law previously required states to cover their poorest or lose federal funding to Medicaid (federal...
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...Federalism is the foundation of our government. Our text states, “Federalism is commonly defined as a system of government in which an overarching government operates at the national level and shares its sovereign power and authority with various subnational governments (Lemay, 2006, pg 87). Federalism is further described as both a political and structural arrangement. There are varying approaches to Federalism as well as different models. Federalism has changed over the years as far as how much the “overarching” government has to do with the “subnational governments”. One such area is the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, aka NCLB. Many articles and books state that the No Child Left Behind Act was or is the most monumental education change or education initiative taken in decades (Simpson and Patricia). There are arguments for NCLB and against, and has been a hot bed for debate since the enactment of the legislation in 2002 by President G. W. Bush. Before we look at the pro and con argument of NCLB we must first understand what the change was for. The legislation was based on four simple principles; • Shift control to local and state districts • Increase accountability of schools • Increase funding of academic programs • Increase flexibility in school choice for parents It should be noted that each of these has many facets to them and are not simple by nature. The NCLB has mandated varying aspects in order to for the principles to apply. I will first look at...
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...The seven basic principles of the U.S government are, separated into two types of categories being the Natural Rights Argument and Control of the Mischiefs of Faction and both having trouble dealing with the rights given by the creator and the control of many groups in their actions towards religion, protests and same-sex marriage. With the Seven basic principles of the U.S government are Popular Sovereignty, Republicanism, Limited government, Federalism, Separation of Powers, Checks and balances and Individual rights. Starting off with popular sovereignty that states that the government can only work and flow thoroughly with the ability of the people having a voice in it and it’s the way the government power. This was built to not let the...
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...In an effort to generate a solution to the shortage of health care, President Barrack Obama proposed the universal health care program named the Patient Protection and Affordable Health Care Act, also known as Obamacare. It has been the most major adjustment to the United States healthcare since Medicare and Medicaid was passed in 1965. Obamacare was signed into the law in March, 2010. In this paper, the key points that will be discussed are Obamacare policy, its pros and cons, and if it happens to raise any complications with federalism and the policy’s efficiency. Obamacare is intended on helping the people that do not have insurance to gain insurance. With the said plan everyone should be able to have health insurance no matter what their...
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...What is Federalism? As a country that is more than 200 years old, the United States of America has become known as the cornerstone of democracy within the world today. When the forefathers of the country came together to create what would become the democratic government today, they instilled a number of political values that are still functioning today. Federalism is one of these ideas. While it has its roots in Colonial America and beyond, it still has a place and can be seen in this country in 2014. The Cornell University School of Law defines Federalism in the following way: “Federalism is a system of government in which the same territory is controlled by two levels of government” (Cornell, 2014). In basic terms this means that the country's government is broken up into parts that handle various levels of concern. For example, the United States of America has developed a government that functions on the local, state and federal level. Since the layout of the government is broken into these three sections, then American can be considered an example of a country that is run by Federalist principles. With that in mind, there are a number of examples of how this ideal, which can be considered dated, is still functioning within the world today. The development of a federalist type of government allows the national level to deal with issues of national concern, while the states tend to deal with issues within their own borders. “The U.S. Constitution grants the federal...
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...Federal Policies - Welfare and Unemployment Miesha White Western International University American National Government GSI1405E Daniel Flynn Febuary 18, 2014 Federal Policies - Welfare and Unemployment In this essay I will provide information on Welfare and Unemployment Polices and how it causes national debates as sell as the conflicting federalism issues it creates. Federalism “is the formal division of authority and power between states and the national government”. (Levin-Waldman, 2012, Chapter 3). The American federal system is set up so that all of the states and national government within are equal in control. It is in that “equality” that the debates, pro and cons of these policies occur. If every states is equal and has equal control over the nation’s government policies, why is that these policies differ from state to state? Welfare and Unemployment were both created for assistance to the people of the nation who were in need. Welfare began in around 1911 when the United States adopted “England’s poor house laws.” ("Welfare," n.d., para. 4) The U.S. has had some form of Welfare in place since before our independence was won. In 1935 “during the Great Depression, when emergency relief measures were introduced under President Franklin D. Roosevelt, Roosevelt's New Deal focused predominantly on a program of providing work and stimulating the economy through public spending on projects, rather than on cash payment.” ("Welfare," n.d., para. 4) President...
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...What is a federal form of government? What image do you have of when you think of federalism? \Do you think of the federal level of government? State government? Local governments? All three? Layer Cake, Marble Cake....21st Century View: Intergovernmental Relations Do democratic governments need to be organized as federal systems? Great Britain has a Unitary form of government How does this differ from the U.S.? Powerful central government with federal or central government mandates (laws) that are implemented (put into place) throughout the whole country= Unitary govt. Examples: National Health Policy throughout the whole country so that you can go from city to city in Great Britain and use your health card at any hospital. (Portability of health insurance in U.S.: can get care anywhere in our country) Current American example of an issue that is being discussed as a national issue: elections Should we have Congress pass federal rules for identification, times polls are open, voting ahead of time, etc.? Do you personally tend to look to the federal government to solve problems in the U.S. ? (synonyms for federal govt.: national govt. and central govt) OR Do you tend to focus on your state government or on your city or county (local) government? We do not have good political theories of when federal minimum national standards are appropriate...
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...the US government in public policy is faced with conflicting crosscurrents. This essay shall focus on the ObamaCare, the most recent reform in healthcare. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) promised to provide quality and affordable healthcare for all Americans, whereby even those people with lower incomes would be able to purchase insurance. This plan has many advantages in that it ensures that no American is shut out of healthcare because they cannot afford it. The statute, however, also has disadvantages. Many companies are shying away from taking care of their employees insurance. The “Cadillac tax” that has been introduced in luxurious health plans has made luxurious insurance way too expensive. The ObamaCare has pros and cons, and some people are for it whereas others are against it. Its execution has been postponed more than once and people are even losing faith in it. About the Obamacare The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), popularly known as the ObamaCare, was introduced in 2009 and signed into law in 2010 (ObamaCare Facts, 2014). It is meant to make quality healthcare affordable by all Americans. The ObamaCare aims at reducing healthcare spending by enacting provisions that address the issues related to healthcare insurance companies. The healthcare industry in the US is a “private for profit industry” which has been making quality healthcare only available to those who can afford insurance. The healthcare system has been free...
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...response they set out to isolate themselves from the rest of the United States. The south argued they were fighting for states rights but the only state right they were fighting for was slavery. The south used federalism ideology to protect the institution of slavery. Although they used a few states right’s arguments such as the Kansas Nebraska act, the ultimate power was at a federal level (moving from the Articles of Confederation to the US Constitution, the states authority was trumped by the federal government) making federalism the dominant ideology. The south supported the national fugitive slave law, the Dred Scott v. Sanford decision, and wanted a national slave code. In the Compromise of 1850 the National Fugitive Slave Law was passed. The compromise essentially kept slavery from spreading to the western territories acquired by the US from Mexico but to appease the pro-slavery southerners a national fugitive slave law was passed. The National Fugitive Slave Law would require states to return fugitive slaves regardless of states laws protecting fugitive slaves. This requires the federal government to over ride a states authority, as this law was requested by southerners it shows southerners using federalism over states rights. The south is using federalism to directly trump states rights, although the south is fighting for, states rights. Prior to the Dred Scott decision by the Supreme Court slavery was outlawed in the northern territories, the north was viewed...
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