Federalism is a system of government in which power is divided between a central authority and constituent political units, such as states or provinces. In the context of the United States Constitution, federalism is addressed in several key ways:
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Division of Powers: The Constitution clearly delineates the powers of the federal government and the powers reserved to the states. For example, Article I outlines the legislative powers of Congress, while the Tenth Amendment specifies that powers not delegated to the federal government are reserved to the states or the people.
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Supremacy Clause: Article VI, Clause 2 of the Constitution includes the Supremacy Clause, which establishes that federal laws take precedence over state laws when there is a conflict. This clause reinforces the authority of the federal government in areas where it has jurisdiction.
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Interstate Relations: Articles IV and VI contain provisions that govern the relationships between states. For example, states must respect the laws and judicial proceedings of other states (Full Faith and Credit Clause), and they cannot discriminate against citizens of other states.
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Checks and Balances: The structure of the federal government itself, with its separation of powers among the legislative, executive, and judicial branches, reflects the federalist principle of shared governance. It ensures that no single entity has absolute control.
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Amendment Process: The amendment process described in Article V shows that both the federal government and the states have roles in shaping the Constitution, emphasizing a collaborative approach to governance.
These elements illustrate how the Constitution embodies the principles of federalism by defining the relationships and powers between the national and state governments.