Federalism in the United States

Federalism in the United States divides governing authority between the national government and the states. The Constitution assigns powers to each level while making federal law supreme in areas of conflict.

Supremacy Clause: Article VI of the U.S. Constitution makes the Constitution and valid federal laws supreme over conflicting state law. It resolves conflicts when valid national law and state law prescribe different rules.
Unitary State: A unitary state concentrates constitutional authority in a central government, which may delegate powers to regional bodies. Unlike federalism, its regions do not possess constitutionally protected governing authority.
Articles of Confederation: The Articles of Confederation were the first U.S. constitution, establishing a league of states with a weak central government. Their limits prompted the 1787 convention to design a stronger national government.
Concurrent Powers: Concurrent powers are governing powers exercised by both the national government and state governments. Taxation and law enforcement illustrate authority that can operate at both levels.
U.S. Senate: The U.S. Senate is the upper chamber of Congress, in which every state has equal representation. Equal state representation gives smaller states influence in national lawmaking beyond their population share.
Tenth Amendment: The Tenth Amendment reserves powers not delegated to the United States or prohibited to the states to the states or the people. It expresses the constitutional basis for powers retained by states.
Confederation: A confederation is a political union in which sovereign member states delegate limited powers to a common government. It places the constituent states above the shared government, reversing the usual federal hierarchy.
Constitutional Convention: The Constitutional Convention was the 1787 meeting in Philadelphia that drafted the United States Constitution. Delegates negotiated the allocation of power between the national government and the states.
Federal Grants-in-Aid: Federal grants-in-aid are funds the national government provides to state or local governments, often for specified purposes. They let Congress influence state policy through funding conditions rather than direct administration.
Electoral College: The Electoral College is the system through which the United States formally elects its president and vice president. Its state-based allocation of electors gives federal structure a role in presidential elections.

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