Federalism

Jordan Loftin

9/11/15

Federalism 

          1. Federalism is a system of government in which states or provinces share power with a national government. The US government uses the principles of federalism. 

        2. There are approximately 195 nation-states in the world, meaning they are independent and possess ultimate power. 

        3. There are approximately 25 countries under federalism today: 

1. Argentina 
2. Austria 
3. Belgium 
4. Bosnia 
5. Comoros 
6. Malaysia 
7. Micronesia 
8. Nepal 
9. Russia 
10. St. Kitts
11. South Africa 
12. Spain 
13. United Arab Emirates 
14. United States of America 
15. Venezuela 
16. Australia 
17. Brazil 
18. Canada 
19. Ethiopia 
20. Germany 
21. India 
22. Mexico 
23. Nigeria 
24. Pakistan 
25. Switzerland

        Countries in Transition to Federalism: 

1. Iraq 
2. Sudan 

       4. It seems to me that something all of the countries under federalism have in common is that they are large and complex countries. Federalism may help them maintain a government. 

        5. Unitary systems of government are countries ran by a single unit of power, known as the central government. 

        6. More than 150 countries are unitary systems of government. The largest 6 are: Chile, Italy, China, New Zealand, China, Philippines, and Serbia 

   

 

        7. If I am reading the chart correctly.. I believe the lower level government within the unitary system exercises power only when the upper level of government tells them to do so. The citizens have a say in both forms of government; but within the federal systems, the upper level government shares power and consults with the lower level government on decisions. A disadvantage of a unitary system is that they cannot always get what the citizens are wanting, a sense of community is lost. But an advantage of a unitary system is that quick change is good change, change can happen very quickly. A disadvantage of a federal system is since taxes, healthcare, and education are states issues, some states spend more money than others on these issues. But an advantage of a federal system is that the system is more responsive to citizens needs. 

       

        8. I think this cartoon is implying that federal governments do not provide good state rights, and that federal governments make benefits for themselves and look down on states. 

        9. I think this cartoon is implying that federal governments take advantage of our healthcare, because like I said earlier that healthcare is a state issue so some states charge more than others. 

        10. I think this cartoon is using the elephant as a republican explaining a federal government and then they are bashing federal government systems by saying California has an idea but the leaders did not even think to consider the idea. 

 

        11. The video I just watched used the metaphor of  the government being compared to a big three layer cake. The three layers being: Local government, State government, and National or Federal government. 

        12. The metaphor for this picture is different than the metaphor from the video because it is not three layers but swirls, and the swirls are mixed together. This is suggesting the relationship between the government and the different layers or level of the governments  rolls are sometimes unclear and end up mixing together.