Should The Federal Government Have Too Much Power

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Since the dawn of the United States and its constitution less than 250 years ago there has been question as to who should have more power, the states or the federal government. As the country was established as an escape from a tyrannical monarchy where the central government and king held all the power, the people were hesitant to allot any power away from the states. But over time, conflict such as the Civil War and it’s resolution changed the paradigm creating something new entirely. Progressively the proverbial pendulum of power has swung from a position of state strength to a reigning federal power that now is supreme today. This change in power over time has cultivated a unbalanced state and federal system that has granted too much power …show more content…
Under the Articles, the federal government only had power to declare war, appoint military officers, sign treaties, make alliances, appoint foreign ambassadors, and handle relations with Indians. With no power at all to tax its people as well as imports and exports, this system of central government quickly proved useless altogether. A complete overhaul was necessary and happened, establishing the United States Constitution we have today. So then how much power does the federal government need in order to properly do its job? Some is necessary, but too much infringes on the rights of the individual states. So, as stated within the 10th amendment, “The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states respectively, or to the people.“ thus keeping the power balance as it should …show more content…
There are some great benefits to them having some power as opposed to none at all. While the states holding on to most powers is crucial, the federal government having some is also very beneficial as they are able to handle larger, bigger picture issues that the states couldn’t themselves. In order to have the funding referenced in the last paragraph we need the powerful federal government for raising money when necessary and paying for things like schools, interstates, and national defense. The vast public lands throughout the middle and western United States are managed by the Bureau of Land Management, the U.S. Forest Service, the United States National Park Service, the Bureau of Reclamation, and the Fish and Wildlife Service which are all entities of the federal government under the department of the interior. Without these organizations, this land and it’s resources would go unmanaged as the individual states wouldn’t have the resources and the wilderness areas cross between states so jurisdiction would be a problem as well. Additionally, a powerful federal government is largely important in protecting the country from invasion and pursuing peace efforts around the world, managing internal conflicts within the nation, and its keeps powers well diffused between branches of government. Power for the federal government does have its place but only where it is laid
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