Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of federalism. How does a federal system of government differ from other systems of government, and what is the constitutional basis of nation-centered federalism? Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay The advantages of federalism are that it provides a local perspective on politics and allows local governments to manage and respond to regional issues more quickly than a national government. It also allows the national government to ensure that local governments do not abuse their power and vice versa. Federalism creates the “laboratories of democracy” addressed in question 9. It allows for greater participation in the political process. One of the biggest drawbacks I see to federalism is lines of communication. In a federalist system there are multiple levels of government that must communicate with each other, and sometimes things get confusing in the communication process. There is no one policy for one nation, in the United States there are 50 (51 including Puerto Rico) different policies for different issues. When it comes to controversial issues, such as the recognition of same-sex marriage, different policies cause problems. It differs from other systems in that voters have a direct say at all levels of government. In a unitary system, voters choose the central government, which then chooses the regional governments. In a confederate system, votes choose independent governments, which then choose the central government. In the federal system, voters choose all levels, regional and central. The constitutional basis of federalism has much to do with the experience of the founder of other systems of government. According to the Articles of Confederation, the central government was too weak to deal with crises that arose, especially economic ones. A unitary system was rejected due to widespread dislike of the system. A representative government was chosen, in which the people vote for all levels of government, and with a strong national government divided between three different branches so that power could not remain exclusively in the hands of one. Briefly discuss how states regulate elections with respect to existing political culture. The biggest difference in how states regulate elections regarding political culture is in traditionalist states. Traditionalist states tend to have stricter voting laws. Take for example Texas and its recent changes to election laws. They moved to make it harder for minorities to vote in order to maintain their system of hierarchy in politics. This is a current trend in most traditionalist states since the repeal of the VRA, and is most evident in the South. In contrast, North Dakota is in the moralistic divide. Anyone can show up on Election Day and register to vote, and then vote. In moralist states there are many more voting opportunities than in traditionalist ones. Briefly discuss the effects of direct democracy on a state's legislative process. Direct democracy in the forms of initiative and referendum allows voters to overturn laws passed by their state legislatures. This can be beneficial or harmful. I remember the protest of the citizens of my district when they voted to put fluoride in the water. People saw this as a good thing that the government wasn't doing, so they brought it to the people to vote. In some cases, such as California, these processes can directly inhibit a state legislature's ability to legislate. Voters decided they would limit theproperty taxes and would have made it harder for the state to raise taxes. This backfired and hurt the state financially, and only recently was the proposal repealed. Ultimately, the system of direct democracy is a way to bypass state legislatures and do what the will of the people wants, rather than having a few representatives deliberate for an entire session. How does political culture influence the role of public opinion within a state? Public opinion is directly linked to the political culture of a state. Depending on the culture there will be different views of government. In traditionalist states, opinions will tend to be more negative than in those of a moralist state, which views government much more positively. In individualistic states government is seen more as a means to an end and public opinion will reflect this belief. In a traditionalist state, due to the hierarchical nature of political culture, public opinion will reflect the candidates themselves and begin to influence their policies if they go off the beaten path. Discuss the various roles governors must assume once they take office and the relative importance of formal and informal powers. How do governors use informal powers to advance their legislative agendas? A governor has several roles at the state level. They are the main legislator: they have the power to sign bills or veto them; The governor has a strong say in the budget; They are the heads of state agencies: they choose who is appointed to the various state offices; They are the main spokespersons of the State: this role is mainly used to attract businesses to their State in order to increase employment and GDP; They are the party leader in their state; I am the commander in chief of the National Guard: Unless the federal government ignores this control, the governor is responsible for the state's national guard. There are two different powers of a governor: formal and informal. Informal powers are not direct powers, but come from being the Governor. With the office they can call attention to certain things or try to persuade legislators to vote for something. Formal powers are the power to appoint individuals to run government agencies, to prepare state budgets, which allows them to direct funds where they want, or use funds as a way to force legislators to vote their way, to place veto, which makes lawmakers more willing to work with a governor if they believe their bill has a chance of being cut from existence, grant pardons, and call special sessions of legislatures, which is helpful in addressing a specific issue, and it only works if they already have a plan in place or a resolved solution. Governors use their informal powers, particularly political influence, to advance their legislative agenda. They are the head of the party while in office and can use it to influence their party members. They may grant favors or help raise money for lawmakers. Ultimately, a governor is more successful if he works with the legislature. Briefly discuss the roles of lieutenant governors and state attorneys general and how those roles have changed. Why did these offices gain political importance and power? Governors have become increasingly politically mobile; they face regional issues in addition to some state and even international issues. The role of lieutenant governors and attorneys general has changed because of this, and they must take a more active role in state government. Each charge was seen as one.