why is it necessary for the federal government to be above the state governments?what p?
968013
Otherwise it would be called a seperate country, soon or later.
196748
Your question doesn't make sense?  what's a federal state system....a contradiction in terms.
900062
I am for a strong local government and a weaker federal government.   I say this because I believe govt can impact people's lives at a local level far better than from washington d.c.
777693
Federal law is created by Congress (statutory) and federal courts (federal common law). State law is created by each state legislature (statutory) and state courts (state common law).\n\nUnder Article VI of the Constitution (Supremacy Clause), federal law (statutory or court-made) preempts state law.\n\nThe answer to your underlying question comes from the interaction of the 10th Amendment with Article I of the Constitution. "The powers not delegated to the United States [federal govt] by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states respectively, or to the people."\n\nBasically, the federal government is one of limited enumerated powers. Unless the federal government is authorized to pass laws in a certain area, they cannot. Only the states can. \n\nThat's why most criminal laws, most family laws, most general behavioral laws -- all are state laws. Unless an area involves one of the limited federal topics (interstate commerce, the military, the post office, copyrights, etc -- see Article I Section 8), then the federal govt has no authority to pass the laws.\n\nAnd because each state is sovereign within their own jurisdiction, each can pass whatever laws they want, as long as those state laws do not conflict with federal laws or the federal Constitution. That's why laws vary by state.
1087004
Our system of Government was set up as a Republic.  they were well afraid of too strong of Federal Government and sit the nation up as individual states and the Federal Government to only have that power that was given it, \n\nBasicly each state was to have the right and ability to be self governing.\n\nWell that went to >>>> in a handbasket before too long and that was one of the main issues of the civil war, with the south supporting state rights and the union supporting a much stronger and powerful federal government.\n\nSo now we have federal income tax ( which is actually unconstitutional) but who listens to me.  And a Federal Army, not merley each state supply troops for a Federal defense.\n\nBut some issues like capital punishment,  murder laws, theft laws, and of course Probate laws, have been left alone for now, since I guess there is not enouigh money in them for the feds to want to be invovled.
614002
The local/city governments should be responsible for planning and the state & federal government should be there to assist on what the local government has planned.\n\nBetter planning and citizens getting involved, not waiting on the federal government should be the goal to avoid such loss of life in the future.
781570
The supreme court's most important power as a branch of government is particularly for checks and balance.  Each branch is there to kinda keep the other two from getting too out of control.  It got it's power from the constitution that's where the branches of government were defined and where they're roles were defined.
197632
The republicans wanted to have a stronger central government, controlled by representatives from the states, which could enact treaties and laws on behalf of everyone. The Federalists wanted the states to have the most power, and were afraid that a central government would become oppressive and tell them how to run their states. It was especially important in the issue of the slave trade, which was economically very important to the southern states to keep it, and politically important to the northern ones to end it.
1024778
Federalism focuses on the idea of a balance between the local individualized governments of the states and the large unified Country-wide government, i.e. our federal government.  Separation of powers can refer to what is constitutionally given to the federal government and what is left to the states.
465804
To illiminate controversy between the state(s) and federal gov't.
1090407
Government knows best whats good FOR GOVERNMENT, namely keeping us "teaming masses" in check.  Since government not gonna voluntarily give up its power, YOU must choose your areas of freedom. The man can't be everywhere, all the time.
832529
When our system of government was created the fears that our founding fathers had about tyranny still existed. To prevent the abuse of power several systems were created. Federalism was created to ensure that state governments could exercise local control and Separation of Powers was created to further divide the power of the national government. Separation of Powers has within it a system of checks and balances. These checks and balances set one branch of government against the other to ensure a healthy competition. This competition safeguards against one branch gaining too much power.\n\nInternally, the legislative branch has its own way of balancing power. The legislative branch, as you know is broken up into two parts or houses. This is known as a bicameral legislature. Each of the houses of Congress has its differences and there are something they must do together as well.
309605
It's a states rights issue.  It doesn't fall under the jurisdiction of the Federal Government
835091
True - I never thought the cities & states would have to pass laws to protect us from our own federal government!  Scary, isn't it?
703668
While a Constitution seems to be necessary, it is not sufficient by itself.  You need institutions that work too.
285989
The Constitution gave the federal goverment more power.  Go to this site for a comparison:\n\nhttp://home.earthlink.net/~gfeldmeth/chart.art.html
751140
Why can't you be both, obviously there is a need for Federal legislation on issues like equality, workplace safety, air traffic etc. There is also the need for States rights to reflect the values of the people who reside in them,  I'm sure people in Idaho disagree with people in Clifornia on more than a few issues foe example. That said State & Federal laws can and do come into conflict like California's medical marijuana initiative VS, Federal drug law enforcement but all in all both are needed in a democracy