Question

questions for review and discussion

1. summarize the purpose of federalism and how it works.
2. why do you think the line between the powers of the federal government and those of state governments was often not clearly drawn?

Explanation:

1. Federalism aims to divide power between a central and regional governments to balance unity and local - governance. It works through a constitution that allocates specific powers to each level.
2. The unclear line between federal and state powers is due to historical development, the need for flexibility in governance, and the interpretation of the constitution over time. Different social and economic issues may also blur the boundaries as both levels may have an interest in addressing them.

Answer:

1. The purpose of federalism is to distribute power between a central (federal) government and regional (state) governments, promoting both national unity and local self - governance. It works via a constitutional framework that assigns certain powers to each level, such as the federal government handling national defense and foreign affairs, while states manage areas like education and local law enforcement.
2. The line between the powers of the Federal Government and those of State governments was often not clearly drawn because of historical evolution, the need for adaptability in governance, and varying interpretations of the constitution. Also, many issues can have both national and local implications, making it difficult to strictly demarcate responsibilities.