1. What exactly is federalism under the U S Constitution?
2. Which provisions or structural designs of the Constitution provide for federalism?
3. What are the benefits and the costs of federalism? What is the difference between centralized authority and local authority?
4. Is the original balance between centralized authority and state authority still recognized? Which provisions or judicial decisions are responsible for shifting the original design?
5.In Federalist No. 45 Madison said:
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. The former will be exercised principally on external objects, as war, peace, negotiation, and foreign commerce; with which last the power of taxation will, for the most part, be connected. The powers reserved to the several States will extend to all the objects which, in the ordinary course of affairs, concern the lives, liberties, and properties of the people, and the internal order, improvement, and prosperity of the State.
Re-write Madison's description to describe the relative powers of the federal government and the states in the the times or our lives.
6. What, if anything should we do to restore the originally designed balance of power?
