The first two columns are taken from a table entitled "The Rationale for an Areal Division of Governmental Powers within the Modern Democratic State" on p. 32 of:
Ylvisaker, Paul. 1959. Some criteria for a
"proper" areal division of governmental powers. Area and Power,A
Theory of Local Government, Arthur Maass (Ed.). Glencoe, IL: The
Free Press.
Basic Values
|
Advantages of Federalism |
Problems of Federalism |
LIBERTY
Constitutionalism, with a goodly admixture of laissez-faire |
• providing more
points
of access
• giving minorities governmental positions and power • keeping government close to its origins and officials within reach • providing a system of countervailing power • localize ills which may beset the body politic |
• allowing "stable majorities" i.e. tyranny of a majority or other faction: Madison's concern, (for further information) 10th Federalist Paper |
EQUALITY
Especially as embodied in it corollary of democracy and the axiom of wide-scale participation |
• barrier to
concentration of power
• additional opportunities for participation • further assurance of responsiveness, flexibility, energy, collective wisdom, consent, and loyalty |
• unequal distribution of resources across the sub-units of government |
WELFARE
Service |
• additional assurance that demands will be heard and needs will be served | • inefficiencies
due to
scale and duplication
• lack of capability (e.g. defense, monetary policy) if decentralization is extreme |