How is power divided between the federal government and the states?

Powers not granted to the Federal government are reserved for States and the people, which are divided between State and local governments.

Most Americans have more frequent contact with their State and local governments than with the Federal Government. Police departments, libraries, and schools—not to mention driver’s licenses and parking tickets—usually fall under the oversight of State and local governments. Each state has its own written constitution, and these documents are often far more elaborate than their Federal counterpart. The Alabama Constitution, for example, contains 310,296 words—more than 40 times as many as the U.S. Constitution.

All State governments are modeled after the Federal Government and consist of three branches: executive, legislative, and judicial. The U.S. Constitution mandates that all States uphold a “republican form” of government, although the three-branch structure is not required.

Executive Branch

In every state, the Executive Branch is headed by a governor who is directly elected by the people. In most states, other leaders in the executive branch are also directly elected, including the lieutenant governor, the attorney general, the secretary of state, and auditors and commissioners. States reserve the right to organize in any way, so they often vary greatly with regard to executive structure. 

Legislative Branch

All 50 States have legislatures made up of elected representatives, who consider matters brought forth by the governor or introduced by its members to create legislation that becomes law. The legislature also approves a State’s budget and initiates tax legislation and articles of impeachment. The latter is part of a system of checks and balances among the three branches of government that mirrors the Federal system and prevents any branch from abusing its power.

Except for one State, Nebraska, all States have a bicameral legislature made up of two chambers: a smaller upper house and a larger lower house. Together the two chambers make State laws and fulfill other governing responsibilities. (Nebraska is the lone state that has just one chamber in its legislature.) The smaller upper chamber is always called the Senate, and its members generally serve longer terms, usually four years. The larger lower chamber is most often called the House of Representatives, but some states call it the Assembly or the House of Delegates. Its members usually serve shorter terms, often two years.

Judicial Branch

State judicial branches are usually led by the State supreme court, which hears appeals from lower-level State courts. Court structures and judicial appointments/elections are determined either by legislation or the State constitution. The supreme court focuses on correcting errors made in lower courts and therefore holds no trials. Rulings made in State supreme courts are normally binding; however, when questions are raised regarding consistency with the U.S. Constitution, matters may be appealed directly to the United States Supreme Court.

Local Government

Local governments generally include two tiers: counties, also known as boroughs in Alaska and parishes in Louisiana, and municipalities, or cities/towns. In some States, counties are divided into townships. Municipalities can be structured in many ways, as defined by State constitutions, and are called, variously, townships, villages, boroughs, cities, or towns. Various kinds of districts also provide functions in local government outside county or municipal boundaries, such as school districts or fire protection districts.

Municipal governments—those defined as cities, towns, boroughs (except in Alaska), villages, and townships—are generally organized around a population center and in most cases correspond to the geographical designations used by the United States Census Bureau for reporting of housing and population statistics. Municipalities vary greatly in size, from the millions of residents of New York City and Los Angeles to the few hundred people who live in Jenkins, Minnesota.

Municipalities generally take responsibility for parks and recreation services, police and fire departments, housing services, emergency medical services, municipal courts, transportation services (including public transportation), and public works (streets, sewers, snow removal, signage, and so forth).

Whereas the Federal Government and State governments share power in countless ways, a local government must be granted power by the State. In general, mayors, city councils, and other governing bodies are directly elected by the people.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull chairing COAG, with State and Territory leaders. Source: David Foote, Auspic

​Federalism divides political power between the different parts of the Federation. In Australia, we have the ‘Federal’ or ‘Commonwealth’ Government, and the Governments of the States and Territories. Federalism is about sharing power between the different entities which limits their powers. By dividing power like this, federalism strengthens representative democracy, can protect liberty, and can promote local decision making on issues of local importance.  What is federalism? In Australia, we three levels of government – federal, State and Territory, and local. Federalism is about distributing and sharing power between the different levels. By dividing power like this, federalism strengthens parliamentary representative democracy and promotes local decision making.   Federalism limits government power The Federal Parliament can only use powers found in the Constitution to make laws. Anything else is a State power. If both the Federal and State Parliaments make inconsistent laws, the Federal law prevails. However, they can both enact complementary laws on the same subject.   Has Federal power grown since federation? Through interpretation of the Constitution federal power has expanded. The section 51xxix ‘external affairs’ power allows the Federal Parliament to make laws giving effect to treaties on subjects including industrial relations, the environment and racial discrimination. It also has greater power to raise and share revenue. How does the Constitution protect States’ powers? The Federal Government cannot place special burdens on States that affect their ability to function as Governments. The Federal Government cannot destroy or undermine the States’ continued independent existence. ​How are disputes resolved within the federal system? Disputes do occur between the Federal Government and State Governments, between different State Governments, and between citizens and their Governments. Most problems are solved through the political process. The High Court often resolves these questions if they raise constitutional issues.  Click here to download a PDF of Principle 4: Federalism in detail Click here to read the Federalism High Court Case Engineers Union succeeds in the High Court, expanding Federal power

The Australian Federation Postcard, ‘The birth of a nation at the century’s dawn’. Source: National Archives of Australia State Premiers and Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser meet in 1978. Source: National Archives of Australia

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