Reply to Steven and Charles

Steven

Is the idea of overlapping systems of government consistent with or contrary to principles of federalism? You bring up the point about fusion centers being an example of Deils 3rd Model of IGR. This is an interesting point that really makes me think deeply about overlapping government and whether it is consistent with or contrary to principles of federalism. In a federal system of government, power is shared between a central government and smaller divisions, such as states or provinces. This division of power is intended to provide checks and balances, ensuring that no one group has too much control (Gordon et al., 2020). The idea of overlapping systems of government, where different levels of government have authority over the same area, is therefore consistent with the principle of federalism. In fact, it would seem that this type of arrangement can be seen as a way to further enhance the checks and balances within the federal system. By ensuring that no one level of government has complete control, overlapping systems of government can help to prevent abuse of power and ensure that decisions are made in the best interests of the people (Boudreault, 2020).

And yet, just as in any jungle there is one dominant animali.e., a king...

First, the central government usually controls the military, which gives it a significant advantage in any power struggle. In addition, the central government typically has a wider tax base than the regional governments, allowing it to mobilize more resources. Finally, the central government often enjoys greater popular support than the regional governments, giving it a mandate to exercise its authority. As a result, in my opinion, federalism often leads to a dominant central government. And I think that is a point McGuire and Kincaid and Stenberg all seem to be making. It is definitely one that you touch upon in your presentation to some degree, and I feel we should discuss it more in depth.

References

Kincaid,…