The Constitution in American Life: Featuring the Friends of Publius
Four educators connect U.S. history, politics, Supreme Court decisions, political culture, and the Center for Civic Education’s We the People curriculum to the challenges of modern democracy. Listeners gain perspective on how the Constitution continues to shape American life.
The Constitution in American Life: Featuring the Friends of Publius
The Inherent Tension of a Federal System
In this episode, the Friends of Publius engage in a conversation about the advantages and disadvantages of federalism and how it affects national identity. This question is from Unit 4, Question 2 of the Center for Civic Education’s We the People curriculum.
-What are the advantages and disadvantages of the natural tension between state and national authority in our constitutional federal democracy?
-What are some significant historical or contemporary examples of federalism-related conflict?
-Do you agree with Justice Black’s claim that the national government is sensitive to the interests of the states, even when federal interests are at stake?