AP 03 1 Vocabulary Unitary System Confederal System

AP 03. 1 Vocabulary • Unitary System • Confederal System • Federal System 1

AP 03. 1 THREE SYSTEMS OF GOVERNMENT Why Federalism? 2

AP 03. 1 3 Government in the U. S. A. • Rights and powers are reserved to the States by the Tenth Amendment unless expressly given to the federal government. • Governments: = 89, 529 • Federal = 1 • State = 50 • Local Governments • Counties = 3, 034 • Municipalities = 19, 492 • Townships = 16, 519 • Special Districts = 37, 381 • School Districts = 13, 051

AP 03. 1 Government in the U. S. A. • There are 196 countries in the world today! • Each has its own system of government. • Types: • Unitary • Confederal • Federal 4

AP 03. 1 5 Unitary System • Centralized government with ultimate authority in the hands of a central or national government • MOST COMMON FORM OF GOVERNMENT • Local governments only have those powers granted to them by central government • Central government provider of funds • Local governments may not have power to tax • Five Largest Unitary States by GDP • China, Japan, United Kingdom, France, Italy

AP 03. 1 6 Confederal System • A league of independent states, each having essentially sovereign powers • Central government only handles those matters of common concern expressly delegated to it • European Union • Large body of European wide laws that all must follow • Freely travel among member states • Common currency for some states (Great Britain kept its own)

AP 03. 1 7 Federal System • Federal system divides power between a national and lower level governments • Each government has distinct powers that the other cannot override. • Countries with federal form: • United States • Russian Federation • Mexico • Germany • India • Brazil • Australia

AP 03. 1 8 Why Federalism? • A Practical solution: • Compromise – supporters knew without it Constitution wouldn’t be ratified • Retained state traditions and local power • Created national government to handle common problems • Other Arguments for Federalism: • Allows functions of Federal government to be farmed out • Large geographical areas make it impractical to govern from one place • Brings government closer to the people

AP 03. 1 9 Benefits for the U. S. A. • State governments training ground for future national leaders • States can be testing grounds for new government initiatives • Unemployment compensation – Wisconsin • Air pollution controls – California • 1996 Welfare Reform Act

AP 03. 1 10 Allowance for Political Subcultures • Very diverse political cultures based on: • Race, • Ethnic origin • Region • Wealth • Education • Religion • Sexual orientation • Subcultures would have less influence in a unitary system

AP 03. 1 11 Arguments Against Federalism • Smaller political units dominated by single party/group • Governments controlled by Democrats impeded Civil Rights legislation • Individual states differ in spending on various programs • Education • Criminal justice • Critics argue for increased federal legislation and oversight • National education policy and standards • Others see this as expansion of national power and expense of the states.

AP 03. 1 12 Summary Questions • Define the terms unitary system, Confederal system, and federal system. • Explain the arguments for and against the concept of Federalism.