Melissa Joseph

Week 1B

Chapter 3 Federalism

Blog4

This week’s reading explains how federalism plays a huge role in controlling the country’s governmental structure. Federalism is the division of power between the national government and states governments with relative autonomy to govern on behalf of the people who elected them. The national government handles matter to protect the country from foreign treat and promotes national economic prosperity. While the states focus more on resolving local and more common issues. To relate to this chapter on federalism, in my country, Haiti the government is not based on federalism, moreover, the unitary system where the president is the head of state, and the prime minister is the head of the government. There are some similarities, as the United States they have the tree branch mechanism system such as. legislature, executive, and judiciary. On the contrary, are only laws written on paper for they are not being used on behalf of the people. The idea of unification for the prosperity of the people is long overdue.

Federalism balances the power between the states and national government to create a structure to meet the people’s needs from the highest to the lowest with a degree of autonomy. A constitution based on federalism can benefit its citizens, for it will be easier to manage and decentralized the power so it is not concentrated in one area. Federalism also provides grounds for great decision-making that addresses specific needs and preferences in different areas. Federalism can and would work in any country if there is cooperation and power distribution according to the law to resolve conflicts and coordinate policies for their citizens. In my country, the government does the opposite, the common issues are dismissed, buried, and the national government is not concerned enough to investigate, and ask for a report to keep track of the government’s inefficacy and responsibility toward the people.

The drawback on federalism, I can relate the drawbacks as someone who is living in New York. The economy and tax regulations vary from state to state everyone is aware that New York city is an expensive state, in this period of recession needs for daily use are more expensive while the minimum wage stays the same. Making it difficult for citizens in every aspect such as housing, healthcare, school employment. I am optimistically hoping the New York state federal system takes action to bring relief to its citizens during these challenging times.