Which level of the U.S. government should be the most powerful: national or state?

StartersGoPo Lessons
Written By Jonathan Milner

Critical Analysis

Find answers to the following questions using the visual above, any links below, your big brain, and your knowledge of American government and politics:

  1. According to the data from the table above, as of 2016 what portion of Americans favored the concentration of power in state government instead of federal government?

  2. In what year of the survey above was the concentration of power at the federal level most popular?

  3. Describe one trend (change over time) in the data above.

  4. Where do you think the power should be concentrated?

  5. Where do you think the power is concentrated?

  6. America has a federal system of government where power is divided between the national (federal) government and state and local governments. Why were many colonial Americans fearful of too much power being concentrated instead of divided?

  7. Federalism is the division of power between national and state government. Think of a current issue in America that involves federal versus state power (abortion rights, or marijuana legalization, for example). Make a claim explaining whether the concentration of power should be in state government or federal government.

  8. When the Framers wrote The United States Constitution (signed in convention September 17, 1787. Ratified June 21, 1788), they were very concerned about the balance of power between state and federal government. There were two main factions or groups at the National Constitutional Convention. The Federalists supported the ratification of the Constitution which created a strong national government. The Anti-Federalists were opposed to the ratification of the Constitution because they were wary of a tyrannical central government which they worried would infringe on individual liberties. They preferred for power to be concentrated at the state level. Imagine the question about state versus federal power was asked to a leading Anti-Federalist in 1787. Based on your knowledge of American political history, explain an Anti-Federalist’s answer to this question.

  9. Explain how The U.S. Constitution’s 10th Amendment (ratified 1791) impacts the balance of power between state and federal governments.

  10. Since Donald J. Trump came to office in January 2025, in some ways governmental power has shifted. In some ways the power of the federal government is expanding. For example, Trump deployed national guard troops against the will of states like California, and districts like, Washington D.C. In other ways he is slashing federal power. For example, he has decimated departments like the Education Department and agencies like the Federal Emergency Management Agency (F.E.M.A.), promising to return control to states and local entities. Overall, how would you say the balance of governmental power has shifted?

Write and Discuss

Take ten minutes to write about the question at the top of the page and then discuss with your classmates.

Act on your Learning

Think of a current issue in America that involves federal versus state power. Contact one of your U.S. legislators (one of the two senators who represent your state, or the one House member that represents your congressional district) and let them know what you think the federal government should do about it. Then contact one of your state representatives and let them know what you think the state should do about it.

Get Creative

If the battle between state and federal government were great fight in a movie, what movie would it be?

Learning Extension*

Listen to this We The People Podcast episode about Federalists v. Anti-Federalists and see if you can determine which one is the winner!

 

Glossary

Jonathan Milner

Civics Maven!

https://www.gopopro.com/
Next

How many national emergency have presidents declared since the 1976 passage of the National Emergencies Act ?