| sider the foundation of the Constitution .. . that 'all | | | | massive 2000 page bill that Americans can neither |
| powers not delegated to the United States, by | | | | read (before passage) nor understand, and the |
| the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, | | | | delegation of authority to dozens of federal |
| are reserved to the states or to the people.' To | | | | agencies and administrative |
| take a single step beyond the boundaries thus | | | | “boards” that make decisions out |
| specially drawn .. . is to take possession of a | | | | of view from the public. |
| boundless field of power, not longer susceptible of | | | | Another principle of limited government that has |
| any definition. | | | | eroded greatly in the United States is the |
| Thomas Jefferson, 1791. | | | | separation of powers between the federal |
| The U.S. Constitution had at its very core, the | | | | government and the States. The concept of |
| principle that power must never be concentrated | | | | dividing authorities between the two is known as |
| in a single person, body, or branch of government. | | | | “federalism”. The United States |
| The temptation to extend and abuse those | | | | was established as a federal republic, whereby the |
| powers is irresistible. It was not just the fear of a | | | | federal government exists only because the |
| tyrannical King or dictator, but of a powerful | | | | States consented to its creation. Today this has |
| centralized government in general. At the time of | | | | changed. The federal government dominates in |
| the Constitutional Convention, a central/federal | | | | almost every area of power and the States have |
| government of the United States was perceived | | | | become marginalized and dependent. |
| by many as a potential threat to the freedom | | | | The question is: why is a group of states |
| and authority of the States and of the people. | | | | preferable over one central government? |
| Therefore, the Framers of the Constitution | | | | Don’t they essentially work the same |
| designed a federal government limited to a set of | | | | way? The Framers favored a federalist system |
| enumerated powers from which they could not | | | | because it brought government closer to the |
| deviate. | | | | people, enhancing democratic rule. A government |
| The Constitution has two powerful mechanisms | | | | closest to the people governs best, meaning the |
| to ensure a limited federal government: (1) the | | | | smaller a jurisdiction, the more familiar a |
| federal government’s is divided among | | | | representative is with his constituency and their |
| three branches (Executive, Legislative, Judicial); | | | | preferences. A Congressmen typically represents |
| and (2) all powers not given to the federal | | | | roughly 700,000 people. In state government, a |
| government are reserved for the states and the | | | | legislator typically represents a much smaller |
| people. | | | | constituency. For example, an Illinois General |
| There are several virtues of limited government. | | | | Assembly member represents roughly 100,000 |
| First and foremost, it protects the people from | | | | people. An Illinois Assemblyman is likely to know |
| the oppression of government at the federal or | | | | the name of every town in his district perhaps |
| state level. Second, the system divides up the | | | | even each school. An Assemblyman has also met |
| enumerated powers among various entities, which | | | | and interacted with a higher percentage of his |
| prevents tyranny of one branch or entity over all | | | | constituents in comparison to a Congressman. A |
| others. We know this as “checks and | | | | representative of a small constituency is more |
| balances”. | | | | accessible and can better serve their interests, |
| Unfortunately in recent years the branches of the | | | | than the representative of a large constituency. |
| federal government have cooperated in extending | | | | Another advantage of the federalist system is |
| their power over the States and the people. | | | | that it allows States to be |
| Today, Washington makes decisions about | | | | “laboratories” for public policy |
| education, healthcare, housing, student loans, | | | | allowing policy-makers to see various examples of |
| nutrition standards, airline prices, and smoking laws. | | | | what works and what doesn’t work. |
| These powers were not granted to the federal | | | | Rather than a single centralized government |
| government in the U.S. Constitution and are | | | | implementing “one size fits all” |
| infringing on the rights of the States and of the | | | | solutions with no knowledge of the consequences, |
| people. | | | | a federalist system allows for as many as 50 |
| Some have argued that the people need the | | | | different policy approaches, allowing for much |
| federal government to have greater authority in | | | | more trial and error among them. The |
| these areas due to the changing times and that | | | | consequences of a failing policy are also easier to |
| the Framers simply could not foresee the | | | | rectify in a small jurisdiction and the negative |
| dramatic changes in the country over the past | | | | impact affects one State rather than the entire |
| two hundred years. However, this argument fails | | | | country. Allowing a diversity of policy also allows |
| to stand up to scrutiny. Not only is it not | | | | States to better accommodate the great |
| necessary for the federal government to have | | | | diversity of demographics, geography, economic |
| such powers, they have failed to accomplish what | | | | conditions, social beliefs, and political ideologies |
| these extra-Constitutional authorities were | | | | among the American people. What works in |
| intended to do. | | | | Vermont does not necessarily work in Texas. A |
| It is simply unrealistic to expect a central | | | | policy that is popular in Alabama may be |
| government to accomplish these tasks with | | | | considered ridiculous in California. Forcing all States |
| competence. The United States is a country of | | | | to adopt the same policy is misguided and |
| over 300 million people governed by about 550 | | | | undemocratic. |
| individuals (President, Congress, and Supreme | | | | In the last two years, there has been a dramatic |
| Court) located in a city on the East Coast. Placing | | | | increase in the concentration of power in |
| so much decision-making authority in one place | | | | Washington. Under President Obama, the federal |
| has major drawbacks. For example, Thomas | | | | government now has greater control of |
| Jefferson wrote “I wish...never to see all | | | | healthcare, banking, student loans, housing, and |
| offices transferred to Washington, where, further | | | | has expanded its control of the economy through |
| withdrawn from the eyes of the people, they | | | | greater direct ownership over American |
| may more secretly be bought and sold at | | | | corporations. These actions are unconstitutional |
| market.” Today we see this unfold in the | | | | and have been historically shown to fail. |
| backdoor deals done for healthcare reform, the | | | | |