This document discusses the concepts of federalism and separation of powers in the US system of government. It asks the reader to review how these concepts are described in the Constitution and consider whether the separation of powers means the branches have truly separate powers or shared powers executed separately. The reader is then asked to analyze how federalism and separation of powers influence current governance, using specific examples, and share one insight from their analysis.

1. In this week’s Discussion, you explained how the concepts of
representative democracy, constitutional democracy, and
republic forms of government impact democratic governance.
Now you will consider the specifics of federalism and
separation of powers in the United States. Federalism and
separation of powers are hallmarks of American government.
Contentious issues in the public agenda often are the result of a
simple disagreement over state powers versus federal powers in
governmental matters. The manner in which the legislative,
executive, and judicial branches of government carry out their
respective duties also is a point of conflict. When analyzing the
influence of federalism and separation of powers on democratic
governance, it is prudent to note the principles of each concept.
To prepare for this Assignment:
Review the article “The State of American Federalism, 2004: Is
Federalism Still a Core Value?” in this week’s Learning
Resources. Think about whether federalism remains significant
in current governance.
Review the “Constitution of the United States” in this week’s
Learning Resources. Look for specific instances in the
Constitution that explicitly describes the separation of powers
and the concept of federalism. Think about the term
separation of powers
and reflect on how those powers are executed by the
government. Are the powers actually “separated” or are the
powers actually “shared” by different branches but executed
“separately”? For example, in the Constitution, Congress is
charged with enacting laws, the Executive Branch is charged
with executing the laws, and the Judicial branch is charged with
deciding the application of those laws in specific cases. In
addition, Federalist 78 and the Supreme Court ruling in
Marbury v. Madison
(1803) also charge the Judicial branch with determining the
constitutionality of laws enacted by Congress. As a result, each
branch has the power to determine either what the law says or

2. how it is executed or applied. Thus, the power of “the law” is
shared by each branch, yet each branch executes that power
separately.
Reflect on the concepts of federalism and separation of powers
and think about how each concept influences current
governance.
The Assignment (2–3 pages):
Briefly describe the concepts of federalism and separation of
powers. Cite specific references in the Constitution to illustrate
your concepts.
Evaluate the concept of separation of powers and explain
whether you agree that the powers are separate or that they are
shared but executed separately.
Explain the influence of federalism and the separation of
powers on current governance. Select specific examples of
current governance to illustrate the influence of each concept.
Share at least one insight that you gained as a result of your
analysis. Or, if you live outside the United States, explain how
you think federalism and separation of powers might affect
governance in your country.
Support your Assignment with specific references to all
resources used in its preparation. You are asked to provide a
reference list only for those resources
not
included in the Learning Resources for this course.