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State Policy Network Releases Updated Federalism Scorecard

Bonisiwe Shabane
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state policy network releases updated 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. 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. Compare with the 2023 Federalism Scorecard

For full explanations and footnotes please see the Federalism Scorecard The State Policy Network has released an updated version of its “Federalism Scorecard.” Read more here. 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.

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https://lnkd.in/e6uq9z6h The State Policy Network’s 2025 Federalism Scorecard found Tennessee to be the least vulnerable state to federal agency pressure and influence. The scorecard, published by the State Policy Network’s Center for Practical Federalism, evaluates how vulnerable each state is to federal government influence, particularly through state agencies and the conditions attached to federal grants, and... All 50 states are ranked based on two sets of variables that assess the extent to which elected representatives properly govern state agencies and the extent to which those representatives have visibility and authority... Tennessee received the highest ranking with a score of 67.18. Utah was ranked second with a close score of 66.34.

The will of Tennesseans should always come before the wishes of D.C. bureaucrats. Thanks to strong conservative leadership from our Republican supermajority, Tennessee is ranked the #1 LEAST VULNERABLE state to federal overreach. The Volunteer State leads the nation in protecting… pic.twitter.com/mrxwkMpHeb 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. 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 Many scorecards assess and rank places where people live, often implying that you’re much better off in some places than others. Our Federalism Scorecard makes no claims about where Americans should live, only that they should protect the places they love.

We offer specific recommendations for American communities to combat the hidden but growing danger of federal overreach. DC politicians from both parties are finding creative ways to impose their will on states and communities, without regard to what citizens actually want. Fortunately, there are many steps state policymakers can take to protect the people who elected them. Want to help protect your state from federal overreach? These resources can help you understand your state’s ranking and know what actions to take to strengthen the capacity of your elected representatives. Sign up to receive up-to-date reports and data.

Our Federalism Scorecard will be updated annually. Throughout the year we will publish state-specific recommendations. State Policy Network partners with state leaders across the country to look beyond top-down mandates from Washington, DC and solve problems closer to home —where citizens have the greatest voice and where they can... SPN has 64 state-based affiliates and more than 110 national nonprofit partners in our network. We accelerate the success of these organizations by helping them build Durable Freedom Infrastructure, providing strategy support, targeted grants, leadership training, and importantly, intentional and frequent connections to their peers so they can test... We also work with state and federal officials, equipping them with the tools and tactics they need to fight against federal overreach and defend the proper balance of power between DC and the states.

While the news media often focuses its attention on DC, your everyday life is shaped by what’s happening in your neighborhood, your community, your city, and your state. Your healthcare, children’s education, public safety, housing affordability, and job opportunities are largely influenced by the policies made in state capitols. At the same time, state elected officials need trusted partners to provide policy recommendations that uphold the principles that have made this nation prosperous and free. Our Network affiliates are uniquely able to take on these challenges because they are grounded in their states, they know the political and policy landscape, and they act on behalf of their community, because... The latest state news, spotlights, and success stories from around the Network. When energy prices rise, or the lights go out, most Americans look to Washington, DC, for answers.

Federal policy matters a great deal. Congress, federal regulators, and national programs influence…

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