The Difference Between State and Local Governments

The United States of America is based on a union of states where each has its powers. However, the constitution outlines the powers of the federal government, state, and the local government. The federal government serves as the union for all the countries where it also has authority over the nation. The constitution was first established to run under a system of federalism. It means that government sovereignty portioned between the national government and other political units such as the state and local government. Different types of federalism, such as dual, cooperative, and picket fence, have been applied in the history of America. Out of the various types, the dual federalism stands out as the most effective method. 

Dual federalism is a system of governance where there is a power division between the state and the federal government. It ensures that there is establishment of a balance between the two. The layer cake represents a different level of power and responsibility, which makes it distinct from other states. The reason why dual federalism stands out among the rest is that it prevents one from invading the jurisdiction of another. Unlike the cooperative and picket fence federalism, there is limited interaction between the state and national governments. In the case of a cooperative, Americans view power as the marble cake where each slice represents levels of governs. In this type of governance, it brings about problems of power, and balancing authority may become difficult. However, this type of federalism allows stretching of power in cases where the need arises. Again, the method lasted for a few years, where the picket fence later replaced. Yet, in comparison to dual, which lasted for almost 150 years’ cooperative lasted only for 30 years. The picket fence focuses on the interaction between the three levels of government. Inefficiency and duplication of roles are evident in such a federation because power is not separated. Dual federalism is the most effective since there is power separation and limited interaction.