SPN’s Center for Practical Federalism aims to educate the American public and policymakers on the benefits of federalism—a system of government where some authority belongs to the national government, and much more resides with states, communities, and the American people. Federalism pushes power where it belongs, to citizens acting through their elected representatives, and it ensures that no one branch of government exerts too much power.
Federalism also enables experimentation with policy solutions tailored to states and communities. When policy is local, it takes into account unique community conditions, is more easily influenced by everyday citizens, and thereby leads to better outcomes for more of the people it governs. What’s more, the diverse array of policies that inevitably result under federalism allow us to learn what works better than a single, top-down approach.
The Center for Practical Federalism is launching a number of initiatives to educate state and local officials, as well as interested citizens, about the need for preserving state and local governing authority against overreach by the federal government. It will also offer training and resources for public officials interested in more effectively overseeing governmental agencies, thereby making them accountable to we the people.
Look for our forthcoming online publication, American Habits, which will show readers—citizens and lawmakers alike—what is possible and what can be accomplished through local governance.
Staff
Madison Ray, Senior Director, Center for Practical Federalism
Steve Johnson, Center for Practical Federalism Fellow
Ray Nothstine, Senior Editor and Writer, American Habits and Future of Freedom Fellow
Tony Woodlief, Senior Executive Vice President and Senior Fellow
Related Media: SPN Promotes Federalism in Major News Outlets
Giving States More Autonomy is a Return to Our Country’s Foundation
SPN’s Erin Norman in The Washington Post
Strong Revenue and Fiscal Federalism Are Driving a State-Based Tax Revolution
SPN’s Michael Lucci in National Review
Let Our Communities Lead
SPN’s Tony Woodlief at National Review
Legislatures’ Too-Often-Abdicated Role: Oversight
SPN’s Steven Johnson in Governing
State of the Union? Look to the States of the Union.
SPN’s Ray Nothstine in Governing
As Biden Dithers, States Are Enacting Meaningful Inflation Policy
SPN’s Erin Norman in The Hill
Rebuilding Trust in Government: A Model Emerges at Local Level
SPN’s Erin Norman at RealClearPolitics
We Must Embrace our National Identity, Allow Communities to Govern Themselves
SPN’s Erin Norman in The Washington Times
The 50 Governments That Hold the Answer to American Division
SPN’s Erin Norman at Governing
Georgia Senate Race Distracts from More Relevant State Elections
SPN’s Erin Norman in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
States Are Showing Washington How to Relieve Inflation
SPN’s Michael Lucci in The American Spectator
Fixing Things at the Local Level Without Government
SPN’s Erin Norman in the Washington Examiner
Additional Reading: SPN’s Tony Woodlief Makes the Case for Federalism in I, Citizen Book
In I, Citizen: A Blueprint for Reclaiming American Self-Governance (2021), Tony Woodlief highlights how our nation’s political class is taking away the most American of freedoms: our right to self-governance. I, Citizen is the story of how that happened and what we can do about it. Learn more about the book here.