How is federalism different from unitary governments and confederations?
Federalism is important to understanding our system of government b/c we live in a federal republic. In a unitary government, there is only one sovereign power. Individual states are examples of unitary governments. Any subdivisions of the states (counties, cities, school districts, etc.) derive their powers from the state government. The state government can create and destroy them, it controls their boundaries, it limits their authority, and it sets up the rules withing which they operate. Citizens of a given state are citizens only of the State, not of their respective units of local government. In a federal system, there are two sovereign powers. The US is an example of a federal system. We are citizens of both the nation and of our respective states. Congress can allow new states to form, but once a state is formed, the central government has no power to control the boundaries of a state or to merge it into another state. Except to guarantee due process, equal protection, and a re
