The Center for Practical Federalism at State Policy Network released the 2024 Federalism Scorecard —a report that reveals the vulnerability of states to influence by the federal government.
Before we get into the details of the report, let’s first explore why federalism matters and how the balance of power in America has shifted away from states and toward Washington, DC
Federalism is a system of government—America’s system—where some powers belong to the national government, and some powers belong to state governments.
While the federal government plays an important role, the US Constitution reserves significant powers for states and communities—and ultimately, for the American people. This balance ensures that government remains close to those it serves. However, over the years, power has shifted away from the states and towards the federal government. America’s federalist system, as it was designed, is no longer recognizable.
Power has centralized in Washington DC primarily through federal agencies—or government organizations under the Executive Branch that were created to help the president enforce the laws. Think the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), or the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). While only a handful of agencies existed during America’s early days, that number has increased significantly. Today, there are over 400federal agencies with thousands of employees.
These agencies have considerable power and often shape policy and create laws. The problem is, they are not elected representatives who are accountable to the people. At the federal level, the legislative branch, or Congress, has the sole authority to make laws. Because federal agencies are now making laws, it means the American people are not governed by elected representatives, but by unelected agency officials in DC.
States also have their own agencies, and federal agencies often exert power through their state counterparts. However, not all states are the same—some excel at holding their agencies accountable through oversight by elected representatives.
The Center for Practical Federalism’s 2024 Federalism Scorecard ranks the states on their ability to resist federal overreach, both through overseeing state agencies and checking the federal government’s influence over how the state makes and administers laws.
States that performed well on this Scorecard place more authority in the hands of elected officials rather than unelected administrators.
The rankings were determined by:
The states that are least vulnerable to federal influence are: Wisconsin, Utah, Tennessee, South Carolina, and Idaho.
The states that are most vulnerable to federal influence are: Alabama, South Dakota, Mississippi, Montana, and Illinois.
The Federalism Scorecard highlights a growing but underreported problem: the federal government’s overreach threatens Americans’ most fundamental right to self-governance.
States and communities should govern themselves through elected representatives, not unelected officials. When power is concentrated in the hands of federal agencies, it undermines the principle of self-governance that transcends party lines. The authors note:
“Our firm conviction is that self-governance through elected leaders is neither a conservative nor liberal principle, and certainly neither a Democratic nor Republican principle. It is, rather, an American principle.”
The Scorecard offers ways for states to curb federal influence, including:
Read the full report here.
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