The document discusses the principle of federalism established by the US Constitution. It divides government responsibilities between the federal and state levels. While federalism is not explicitly mentioned, the Constitution outlines powers held solely by the federal government, shared powers, and those reserved for the states. This has led to ongoing debates around the interpretation of the 10th Amendment and the balance of federal and state authority. The document provides examples of how federalism applies to different public policy areas like the economy, education, the environment, healthcare, and welfare.

1. Federalism and Public Policy
“
Nothing is more certain than the indispensable necessity of
government, and it is equally undeniable, that whenever and
however it is instituted, the people must cede to it some of their
natural rights in order to vest it with requisite powers.
” - Alexander Hamilton
The
U.S. Constitution
established a national government based on the principle of
federalism – which delineated government responsibilities at the
federal and state level. Although the word federalism does not
appear in the U.S. Constitution, sections of the U.S.
Constitution explain powers held solely by the federal
government, shared by both the federal and state governments,
and reserved to the states.
Watch
Constitutional Hall Pass: Federalism
, a brief video explanation of federalism from the National
Constitution Center.
Since the ratification of the U.S. Constitution in 1788, the
federal and state governments have been, on occasion,
embroiled in a series of authorial and policy-making debates
regarding the U.S. Constitution – in particular the evolving
interpretation of the Tenth Amendment. This debate between
federal power and state’s rights has many public policy
examples.
Directions

2. : Using the required,
academic readings
, and supplemental academic research, please address the
following while adhering to the Discussion Board Rubric:
Identify the constitutional principles of federalism.
Select a specific example of federalism from one of the
following fields:
Economic policy (for example, U.S. allocation of federal grants)
Education policy (for example, the implementation of Common
Core)
Environmental policy (for example, the Clean Air Act)
Healthcare policy (for example, the Affordable Care Act
(Obamacare))
Welfare policy (for example, Medicaid)
Explain this specific example of federalism.
Is this specific public policy a federal, state, or local public
policy?
How does this specific public policy affect the roles of the
legislative, executive, and judicial branches within a federal
government?

3. Why does this example interest you?
How does this example affect you?
Support your analysis with information obtained from the text,
the U.S. Constitution, and/or subsequent federal and state laws.
References:
National Constitution Center
. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://constitutioncenter.org/.
The Constitution of the United States
. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.archives.gov/founding-
docs/constitution.