POLI 2052 Chapter : Chapter Two Notes Federalism
Document Summary
Federalism is a way of organizing a nation so that two or more levels of government have formal authority over the same area and people. **interstate commerce forms the basis for lots of national laws. Unitary governments are those in which all power resides in the central government. In a confederation, the national government is weak and most or all of the power is in the hands of lower levels. Article 1, section 8: tribunals, declare war, regulate commerce, lay and collect taxes; provide and defend general welfare, necessary and proper. Supremacy clause (national law trumps state law) article iv, second clause. Judicial review and federalism: interstate commerce (the early years: mcculloch v. maryland (1819), the supremacy clause and implied power; establishment of national bank. Maryland placed an impossibly high tax on the bank so that it would not be able to run. Allowed congress to regulate navigation in the states in general.
