Based on current information, the accurate statements about the balance between state and federal power today include:
- The U.S. operates under a system of federalism, dividing powers between the national (federal) government and state governments, as established by the Constitution. Federal powers are specifically enumerated, and all powers not delegated to the federal government are reserved to the states or the people (Tenth Amendment).
- The division of state and federal powers is complex, involving exclusive federal powers (e.g., coining money, declaring war, regulating interstate commerce), exclusive state powers (e.g., conducting elections, regulating intrastate commerce), and concurrent powers shared by both (e.g., taxation, lawmaking, establishing courts).
- The Supremacy Clause in the Constitution establishes that federal laws override conflicting state laws, which has been upheld in Supreme Court rulings such as McCulloch v. Maryland.
- There has been a historical and ongoing shift of power from states to the federal government, influenced by constitutional interpretations (such as the Commerce Clause) and amendments (such as the Fourteenth Amendment applying Bill of Rights protections to states), which can be seen as both positive for rights protection and a tipping of the power balance away from states.
- Contemporary issues like marijuana legalization, immigration enforcement, healthcare mandates, and pandemic responses highlight ongoing tensions and negotiations in the balance of state versus federal authority.
- State governments and their courts still play a significant role in checking federal power, shaping the federal-state relationship dynamically.
Overall, the balance is a dynamic and evolving system with power shared, contested, and negotiated continuously between states and the federal government, shaped by constitutional provisions, legal rulings, and political developments.
These points capture the accurate understanding of the balance between state and federal power today.
