Federalism and the Strong Central Government

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 Deil’s 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).