By Laura Jackson
I recently listened to a podcast featuring a discussion between Congressman Dan Crenshaw and former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. Secretary Rice was one of my heroes growing up, so getting to know her thoughts on contemporary issues was a huge draw for me.
As part of the discussion, Crenshaw and Rice shared the importance of civics education. Their focus was on K-12 and college curriculum, but it got me thinking — how many of us actually take the time to contemplate the structure of the government we have the privilege to live in? The system of government our founding fathers established — the very design of our Republic — determines who has the power to do what, and impacts us where we live, work and raise our families.
So, here’s a quick refresher on one key aspect of this structure: Federalism. Federalism is the tenet that governmental power is divided between a central (federal) government and smaller (state and local) governments. And it’s not simply a theoretical construct — it’s a dynamic balance that affects our commutes, our children’s education, our health care access, and our civil liberties. It is, in short, personal.
Why federalism?
To understand why we have this system in the first place, we need to go back to 1787.
After declaring independence, the thirteen original colonies experimented with a loose union under the Articles of Confederation — a government so weak it couldn’t raise taxes or enforce laws. The founding fathers recognized this setup wasn’t sustainable, but they didn’t want to swing too far in the other direction, either. Having just fought a war against a centralized monarchy, they were deeply wary of concentrating too much power in one place.
Federalism was their answer — a compromise between total unity and total independence. By dividing power between the national and state governments, the founders hoped to prevent tyranny, encourage civic participation, and allow states to serve as “laboratories of democracy,” where different policies could be tested locally before potentially being scaled nationally.
In other words, federalism was designed not just to govern, but to safeguard liberty.
Local government: The most immediate impact
If you’ve ever called to report a pothole, attended a school board meeting, or voted in a bond election, you’ve participated in local governance. Local government handles the details of our daily lives — trash pickup, water service, public safety, road maintenance, and governance of public schools. Local health departments oversee restaurant inspections and vaccination clinics. City councils, county commissioners courts, and school boards make decisions that affect our families with a scope and speed the federal government rarely matches.
And here’s the kicker: local elections often have the lowest voter turnout, despite having the most direct impact. When we overlook these races, we forfeit our ability to influence the issues closest to home.
State government: The policy gatekeeper
While local government is the hands-on operator, state government sets many of the rules those operators must follow. States license teachers and nurses, manage highway systems, administer elections, and often set the legal boundaries on everything from gun ownership to environmental regulations. Medicaid expansion? State decision. Voter ID laws? State decision. Curriculum standards for public schools? You guessed it — state.
This middle layer of government was a critical part of the founders’ vision. They believed state governments would be more responsive to the unique needs of their people and act as a check against federal overreach.
Federal government: The big picture
The federal government handles matters that affect the nation as a whole. It regulates interstate commerce, manages the military, handles foreign affairs, and protects constitutional rights.
Federal laws set important baselines, but they often (and should) leave enforcement or expansion to the states. And while D.C. drama makes headlines, the machinery of federal governance moves slowly, and it is often not tuned to local nuance.
Why it matters now
Federalism isn’t just a structure; it’s a strategy. It allows different communities to meet their own needs while still benefiting from national unity. Knowing which level of government is responsible for what empowers us to continue improving our communities.
When your neighborhood needs safer streets, don’t wait for the president — go to your city council. If your state intrudes on local decisions, don’t just complain on social media, show up for the next state-level election.
Federalism was designed to encourage, and in fact demands, civic participation. Let’s not abandon this institution our founders entrusted to us.
This op-ed was written by Laura Jackson, Ph.D. and originally published by Tyler Morning Telegraph.
Laura Jackson is a partner at CWJ Strategies and is a seasoned strategist with over 15 years of experience leading major, multi-million dollar strategic communication efforts in the business, political, and education sectors.