The Importance of Federalism
Rep. Bruce Westerman (AR-04)
As the most foundational building block of our federal framework, federalism – or the division of power between a central national government and individual state governments – is essential to upholding the American ideal of checks and balances, ensuring that no single entity retains too much power.
The first draft for our government’s framework, the Articles of Confederation, proved unsuccessful – as most first drafts usually are – because too much power was placed into the hands of the states.
Our Founding Fathers were reeling from the tyrannical rule of a powerful unitary government in which all power resided in a single, centralized national authority. So, their goal was to create a form of government in which no single group or individual could gain too much power or control over the people.
Seeking to discover how the power of the federal government could be better balanced while still keeping the same idea of states’ rights, the Founders met once again, in Philadelphia in 1787, to draft what we now know as the Constitution. While the word itself isn’t explicitly used, the concept of federalism is woven throughout the language of the document.
It’s been 238 years since the Constitution was ratified, and the United States has successfully functioned under this idea of federalism ever since, setting an example for similar systems of government across the globe.
Serving my own time in the Arkansas State Legislature, I have been privileged to gain a deep understanding of how the state and federal government work separately but also hand-in-hand.
Now serving in Washington, it remains a high priority to work closely with and hear directly from officials on the state and local levels. Earlier this month, I was pleased to welcome several members of our State Legislature to Washington, D.C., where we met to discuss several important issues impacting Arkansans.
These men and women in the State Legislature understand the direct needs of the folks they serve. That’s why I see it as such an important part of my job here in Congress – on the federal level – to work directly with these senators and representatives on the state level so that we can push Arkansas-specific agendas across the finish line here in Washington.
It’s a great privilege to get to serve here in Congress and be a part of this incredible system our Founding Fathers created. It’s a form of government that started as an experiment but has since proved to be the very best in the world. We are a government of the people, by the people, and for the people, which is why it will remain an honor and responsibility that I do not ever take lightly to represent the people of the Fourth District in the halls of Congress.