University of Kwazulu-Natal

Federalism Tracker Updated Center For The Study Of Federalism

Bonisiwe Shabane
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federalism tracker updated center for the study of federalism

The Federalism Index Project has recently updated its “Federalism Policy Tracker,” which follows federalism-related legislation, regulation, and state actions. Read more here. This special report prepared by the Center for Practical Federalism at State Policy Network is derived from a 50-state analysis of multiple variables—our Federalism Scorecard—that reveal the vulnerability of states to influence by federal... States that perform well on this Scorecard place authority over internal state agency operations, as well as the state’s relationship with federal agencies, in the hands of elected officials rather than unelected administrators. We include the extent to which state agencies are accountable to legislators in our analysis (rather than simply looking at state–federal relations), because federal agencies often exert power through their state counterparts. If elected officials don’t have visibility and oversight with regard to their own state’s agencies, in other words, they won’t be able to check federal influence over how their own laws and budgets are...

The first set of variables assesses the extent to which elected representatives properly govern state agencies, and the second set assesses the extent to which those representatives have visibility and authority over their state’s... This report draws its reform recommendations from the best laws in “red” and “blue” states alike, consistent with the principle that citizens ought to be governed by people they elect. *Correction: A 5-point adjustment was made to South Carolina’s score due to a scoring error. This update did not affect the state’s overall ranking. Compare with the 2024 Federalism Scorecard 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. The Center for Constitutional Studies at Utah Valley University has updated its federalism index with progress of bills in Congress and state legislatures. Read more here.

The Federalism Initiative at Utah Valley University's Center for Constitutional Studies exists to help educators, state leaders, and ordinary citizens better understand and appreciate the drama and history of American federalism in the overall... Created in 2018 and housed within CCS, the Federalism Index Project is a regional hub for the study and promotion of American federalism. Its aim is to help educators, state leaders, and ordinary citizens better understand and appreciate the significance of American federalism in the overall structure of the United States Constitution. Federalism can be defined as a political system that combines self-rule with shared rule across different levels of government. The structure of American government, which includes representation, bicameralism (two legislative chambers), separation of powers, and federalism, was vital to the early history of the American republic and it remains so today. In fact, the framers of the U.S.

Constitution considered structural features of the Constitution to be so important that these alone were not left to later amendment. Although federalism is widely regarded as the “key innovation” of the U.S. Constitution, it is in danger of being forgotten. While no one doubts that federalism is a core principle of American democracy, the public's knowledge of it—and other structural components of the U.S. Constitution—is at dangerously low levels. What's new in the American federalism policy world?

Explore the 2025 Federal and State Policy Tracker: "It's true that Republicans have often been more clearly associated with federalism. But both sides are fair-weather federalists. Both sides will, depending on the politics of the moment, prefer state or national power, depending on where they're in control. People ought to have a more enduring commitment to federalism for democratic reasons-that's the aim of my research agenda….I'm delighted to have people come late to the party. And I hope to convince them that this shouldn't be a short-term commitment because they don't like the politics of the moment.

A commitment to federalism should really be a long-term commitment based on the importance of democratic design." The Federalism Index Project at Utah Valley University's Center for Constitutional Studies exists to help educators, state leaders, and ordinary citizens better understand and appreciate the history, meaning, and contemporary relevance of American federalism... Federalism is a dynamic concept, and Federalism Law is inherently complex. But the basic principles of American federalism have not changed dramatically over time. Take a free course on the Principles of Federalism and earn Continuing Legal Education Credit. The online course is divided into six short (10-12 minute) modules.

It is taught by historians, constitutional law professors, and federalism scholars from some of the most prestigious institutions of higher education in the country. Credit can be earned in three steps: The states are policy innovators, developing new solutions to many of the most pressing issues facing the country. A London Times editorial expresses support for continuing devolution by empowering mayors by abolishing many district and county councils. Read more here. Vishnu Kumari Tandon has written Nepal's Federalism and the Pursuit of Deliberative Democracy (Abingdon, Oxon: Routledge, 2026).

The author analyzes whether decentralization has boosted participation in… Nicholas Jacobs contends that federalism in the United States "has too often under-delivered on its promise for those farthest from the centers of power." Read… The National Conference of State Legislatures reports that a bipartisan convening of state legislative leaders has issued a declaration that called on the federal government…

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The Federalism Index Project Has Recently Updated Its “Federalism Policy

The Federalism Index Project has recently updated its “Federalism Policy Tracker,” which follows federalism-related legislation, regulation, and state actions. Read more here. This special report prepared by the Center for Practical Federalism at State Policy Network is derived from a 50-state analysis of multiple variables—our Federalism Scorecard—that reveal the vulnerability of states to influe...

The First Set Of Variables Assesses The Extent To Which

The first set of variables assesses the extent to which elected representatives properly govern state agencies, and the second set assesses the extent to which those representatives have visibility and authority over their state’s... This report draws its reform recommendations from the best laws in “red” and “blue” states alike, consistent with the principle that citizens ought to be governed by ...

Before We Get Into The Details Of The Report, Let’s

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 Con...

Power Has Centralized In Washington DC Primarily Through Federal Agencies—or

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...

The Federalism Initiative At Utah Valley University's Center For Constitutional

The Federalism Initiative at Utah Valley University's Center for Constitutional Studies exists to help educators, state leaders, and ordinary citizens better understand and appreciate the drama and history of American federalism in the overall... Created in 2018 and housed within CCS, the Federalism Index Project is a regional hub for the study and promotion of American federalism. Its aim is to h...