In the American federal system, both national and state governments possess sovereignty, with the national government primarily overseeing national issues such as defense, foreign trade, and immigration, while states manage local matters like public order. As noted by Madison in Federalist No. 45, the federal government's powers are limited and clearly defined, whereas state powers are broad and undefined. The national government holds ultimate decision-making authority for the country, as it is deemed supreme in its enumerated powers under Article VI of the Constitution, which establishes the Constitution and federal laws as the highest law of the land. This structure enables the national government to legislate for the entire nation, manage wartime and diplomatic relations, regulate interstate commerce, and resolve state disputes.
Summarize this. In the American federal system, both the national and state
governments have sovereignty. In general, the national
government is sovereign over national matters, such as
national defense, foreign trade, and immigration, while
states are sovereign over local matters, including basic rules
of public order. As Madison noted in Federalist No. 45, “The
powers delegated by the proposed Constitution to the federal
government are few and defined. Those which are to remain
in the State governments are numerous and indefinite.” In the
federal system, the ultimate power to make decisions for the
entire nation rests exclusively with the national government,
which, when operating under its proper jurisdiction,
is supreme in its enumerated powers. Article VI of the
Constitution states that the Constitution, all constitutional
laws, and all treaties are the supreme law of the land.
More generally, the Constitution empowers the national
government to govern for the entire nation. It makes the laws
for the country. It makes decisions related to war and peace
and conducts relations with foreign nations. It regulates trade
between the states and settles disputes among them.
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