University of Kwazulu-Natal

Policymakers Federalism Scorecard

Bonisiwe Shabane
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policymakers federalism scorecard

The Center for Practical Federalism Scorecard reveals the vulnerability of states and communities to influence by unelected federal agency officials. States that perform well on this Scorecard tend to 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... The reforms recommended in this report are drawn from the best laws in “red” and “blue” states alike, consistent with the principle that citizens ought to be governed by people they elect. Their effect is to give elected leaders—in particular, state legislators—more visibility into and authority over the many ways their state agencies engage with federal agencies. Important but neglected matters like the strings attached to federal grants, a barrage of legally questionable federal guidance, and the extensive state-borne costs of federal grant compliance are having a growing impact on the... Elected officials with visibility into these and other factors are better positioned to lead than those who remain blind to them.

State legislators who are able to see, question, and even change the decisions unelected agency officials are presently making are the ones who will be able to effectively lead. The rest, whether they realize it or not, will increasingly take their marching orders from federal agencies who don’t always have the best interests of local communities in mind. The Scorecard will be updated annually. Sign up below to be notified of the latest rankings. 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 State Policy Network has released an updated version of its “Federalism Scorecard.” Read more here. 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... 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 to preserve state and local governing authority against overreach... 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. SPN’s Center for Practical Federalism was a 2023 nominee for the Gregor G.

Peterson Prize in Venture Philanthropy. American Habits, shows readers—citizens and lawmakers alike—what is possible and what can be accomplished through local governance. The Center for Practical Federalism has released a new scorecard ranking the states in their ability to push back against excessive federal agency influence and control. “Rather than a rank ordering of “best” to “worst” states, therefore, our Federalism Scorecard is an index of vulnerability to federal pressure,” reads a line from the report. Tennessee and Utah are the top of list while Alabama and Montana are rated the most vulnerable states to federal pressure. More from the scorecard: “Our goal is not to cast blame on particular states, policymakers, or political parties.

Instead, we are sounding the alarm for every citizen who believes states and communities should govern themselves, and that this governing ought to be done primarily by elected representatives of the people. Tennessee and Utah, both enacted a number of reforms identified in the Federalism Scorecard this past year. Tennessee, most notably, reformed the way it processes federal grants, requiring additional review by the Legislature.” Staff | Related Media | American Habits | Federalism Scorecard 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... 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... 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. Our online publication, American Habits, shows readers—citizens and lawmakers alike—what is possible and what can be accomplished through local governance.

SPN Center for Practical Federalism's updated 2024 Federalism Scorecard highlights the need for states to oversee their agencies and resist federal influence. Is your state safeguarding self-governance? Discover the rankings: https://lnkd.in/g6TSKmPP #Federalism #SelfGovernance Rensel Consulting’s Senior Policy Advisor Roger J. Cohen shares his insights in Route Fifty on how regional collaboration can help governments deliver services more efficiently and effectively. As public agencies face tighter budgets and complex challenges, regional approaches can bridge jurisdictions, improve coordination, and enhance community outcomes.

Read the full article below 👇 We’d love to hear your thoughts: Where have you seen regionalism succeed (or fail) in service delivery? What barriers must be addressed for regional models to become more mainstream? Public policy counsel. Transportation, Infrastructure, Mobility, Sustainability, Regional planning. The US government's chaotic withdrawal of support for vital public services has left our traditional notion of American #federalism in tatters, and we are at the tipping point of a devastating dam burst of... #Innovation and #efficiency will be critical as never before, and regional jurisidctions like Councils of Government (COGs) and Metropolitan and Rural Planning Organizations (M/RPOs) are an untapped source of opportunity for government #reinvention.

My latest article in Route Fifty describes the moment and the possibilities. #regional_planning #states #local #government #public_administration https://lnkd.in/eYRa5Uzx Brittany Panuccio's confirmation into the EEOC has restored the agency’s quorum, and changes to the PWFA are likely on the way. Don't miss this blog post from Tara Burke, Joseph Lynett and Katharine Weber for a deep dive into potential policy impacts. https://lnkd.in/e6uq9z6h "For each campaign promise, our reporters research the issue and then rate it based on whether the promise was achieved: Promise Kept, Promise Broken, Compromise, Stalled, In the Works or Not Yet Rated.

We rate the promise not on the president's intentions or effort, but on verifiable outcomes." "This public resource tracks legal challenges to Trump administration actions....The Tracker is part of the Collection: Just Security’s Coverage of the Trump Administration’s Executive Actions.... The Tracker was first published on Jan. 29, 2025 and is continually updated." "To keep up with the dizzying array of executive orders, directives, firings and policy changes, the Guardian will be tracking the major developments of the second Trump administration’s first 100 days, just like we... "Executive orders have limited staying power, as they can easily be reversed by the next president.

And that’s if they survive the legal challenges. U.S. News is tracking lawsuits challenging some of Trump’s biggest executive orders. The list will be updated as new lawsuits are filed." Two months ago, we made note of the Cato Institute’s Freedom ranking, which places Nebraska towards the bottom (at 38th) of the 50-state analysis of freedom components. A new ranking system—a “Federalism Scorecard” has just been released by the Center for Practical Federalism, and Nebraska’s ranking on that index is even lower—at 43rd.

This latest scorecard is focused on the importance of federalism—the system of shared powers between state and national government that the founders of the United States envisioned. This principle was premised on the notion that some powers inherently rested at the national level to maintain order and good relationships among the states—things like national defense and interstate commerce and creating a... On the other side, however, were the powers best left closer to the people with their assorted local and regional differences in perspective—the governing powers best left to the states. Over time, those powers have included things like determining speed limits and most crimes or developing laws for the health and safety of the population. Over the years, federalism has taken on two primary forms, waxing and waning between the two: dual federalism and cooperative federalism.

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