When this happens, its usually because one of these local governments is too small to support itself. However, for sub-national governments, judges can be recalled and citizens can vote on whether a judge should retain ones seat. What are the advantages and disadvantages of having so many levels of subnational governments in the United States? The OpenStax name, OpenStax logo, OpenStax book covers, OpenStax CNX name, and OpenStax CNX logo 2022. Even where the government permits the presence of sub-national governments in this structure, there is not a sharing of power. This freedom can also be interpreted as a disadvantage. So, federally funded programs such as welfare and Medicare/Medicaid will be funneled through state offices, with the states and the federal government sharing funding responsibility. In which areas do you think people's rights and liberties are at risk of government intrusion? )Judicial review: Act of congress unconstitutional 2. Should Congress have this power or should the Supreme Court reel it in? State and local governments therefore are often responsible for things such as local transportation needs, law enforcement, and public schools, and sometimes have a role in broader issues such as environmental protection and health care. In fact, this system of governance was put into place from the start in acknowledgment of the very different cultures that had developed over the years in the different colonies. What changes were made to strengthen the role of the federal government under the U.S. Constitution? States have a major say in transportation issues, aside from the interstate freeway system, which was created by the federal government. When there is a unitary government which offers no degree of autonomy to the areas under its control, then the sub-national regions are not allowed to decide their own laws at any time. It has power, but that power relies upon the other branches to be implemented or enforced. When we take a look back through the stories of history, the pages are quick to show that when power is held by only a few or just one, then it is abused far too easily. Latest answer posted December 01, 2019 at 7:40:00 PM. College students in Texas must study Texas state politics and government, regardless of their majors. In which level of substate government would you be most likely to get involved? 2023 eNotes.com, Inc. All Rights Reserved. This is good to a certain extent; however, the legislator should make decisions that are ultimately in the constituency's best interest, even if the decision initially goes against the constituent's will. Fiscal policy is established as a stabilizing instrument against the volatility of economic activity, a function that becomes more important considering the decentralization model that governs Colombia and many countries, and which is characterized by the fact that subnational governments have fiscal autonomy, and therefore are active agents in the provision of goods and services under a . Under a ________ political culture, citizens will tend to be more tolerant of corruption from their political leaders and less likely to see politics as a noble profession in which all citizens should engage. Two of the best examples of this form of government are found in the United Kingdom and France. 28 September. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. The advantage of the unitary government is that this confusion disappears. Additionally, they play a symbolic role in adding to the feelings of transparency and justice in politics. PLEASE NOTE: This book is currently in draft form; material is not final. The president signs legally binding nuclear arms terms with Iran without seeking congressional approval. You could research the rules on term limits for federal officials in the Constitution. The president today has a huge influence on the people through technology. If at any point the people or the Supreme Court recognize that the Congress no longer needs this power they can "reel it in.". Explain. A. Some of the enumerated powers granted to Congress in the Constitution include the power to regulate interstate commerce, raise and support armies, coin money, declare war, and conduct foreign affairs. The decision-making process of a unitary government may be fast, but the design of their resources means that the response can be very slow. That includes how the financial markets work, what rights people have with their daily interactions, and who receives the majority of the monetary benefits in society. Sub-national governments manage local affairs on behalf of national governments. While subnational governments can't do everything on their own (they can't declare war), they do possess the latitude to pass myriad laws and make their own choices when it comes to expenditures. However, directly contacting members of the local and even state governments is much easier. Academic.Tips. FemaleMaleTotalYes382058No112126238Total1,50146296\begin{array}{lccr} Furthermore, local level governments can better serve the particular needs of their citizens because they do not also need to balance the needs of distant and different parts of the country. Governments in which power is lent to subnational governments, as opposed to federal governments, in which power is shared between the two levels. Explain. Explain. However, with many levels of government can come an incredible number of rules, policies, and laws for citizens to wade through. A unitary government can decide at its leisure what is legal or illegal in society. In theory, with elected boards in charge, they are not immune to popular control. Even though term limits do have some disadvantages, they are still more used and favored in society. It creates less confusion over the governing process for the average citizen. But on election day Bush ended up losing the popular vote by a small margin (although winning the electoral vote). Do term limits seem to have more advantages or disadvantages? Also, consider how each state has its own unique concerns, problems, and culture; the rules or guidelines that work well in one state may not work as well in another. However, there can be disadvantages to having so many levels of sub-national government in the nation. Remember that the status of sub-national or local depends on whether the nation operates under a federal or under a unitary system. b. Registration No: 317209. B.A. There are more than 87,000 local governments in the United States. Advantages: -Localized governance -Encourages coordination Disadvantages: -Increased government costs -Confusions and lack of accountability Do term limits seem to have more advantages or disadvantages? This is where the trustee legislator part comes in. Advantages: Latest answer posted October 18, 2020 at 12:28:44 PM. A positive characteristic of the dual court system is that it allows more cases to be heard and more specificity within the cases. Enjoy eNotes ad-free and cancel anytime. What are the three parts of the Constitution? Since this delegation may not include the power to make needed changes to protect people, the absence of an independent local government can sometimes cause more harm than good. What is the different between horizontal and vertical policy-making? Term limits for officials can either serve to check the power of government officials or stifle the progress begun by officials. Sometimes states and municipalities do not comply with these laws and the matters get tied up in the courts for years. This is because they were appointed by Democratic President Barak Obama. 8. Do term limits seem to have more advantages or disadvantages? Why? Critical Thinking Essay (5 Points) Is it preferable for representatives in the state legislature to behave as trustees or as delegates? Do term limits seem to have more advantages or disadvantages? Thus the president's side receives fewer votes because the less interested voters aren't present. Defend your answer. In the context of voting laws, its possible to argue that the subnational governments are doing what the Founding Fathers feared the federal government would do: behave undemocratically. Enjoy eNotes ad-free and cancel anytime. Only Nebraska has a unicameral legislatureA legislature with only one chamber, as opposed to a two-chambered legislature, such as the U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives in the U.S. Congress, or the House of Lords and House of Commons in the British Parliament., with one non-partisan chamber to do the states legislative business. Which model of bureaucracy best explains the way the government currently operates? Defend your answer. He also has high cholesterol and recently started taking a lipid-lowering medication. What are the advantages and disadvantages of having so many levels of subnational governments in the United States? What are the advantages and disadvantages of having so many levels of subnational governments in the United States? Campell's surge-and-decline theory suggests that midterm elections favor the opposition of the current president because the less interested voters who would normally vote in favor of the current president during the presidential elections stay home during the midterm elections. struggles for power between the president and the Congress. (Dollars are in thousands, except share information. Because the goal of a government is self-preservation, the various arms that work at the local level are usually the first resources cut when theyre in budgetary issues. States manage park systems, regional economic development efforts, and state legislatures set tax rates and create budgets that direct state spending. It is likely to be more efficient to run services locally than manage them from the centre. 1999-2023, Rice University. Although a unitary government can improve efficiencies because there is a lack of bureaucracy, the structure also makes it possible for individuals in the government to manipulate the system. This book is licensed under a Creative Commons by-nc-sa 3.0 license. Counties also often are responsible for local election and voter registration. 4. Our academic experts can create. One advantage of so many local and state (i.e., subnational) governments in the United States of America is often attached to freedom. States may create more or less stringent environmental laws; expand or contract marriage rights; and regulate business and commerce within their own borders. However, the publisher has asked for the customary Creative Commons attribution to the original publisher, authors, title, and book URI to be removed. Therefore, in this case, having many levels of subnational governments is an advantage because they give people an opportunity to be closer to authorities. This is the case because people can cross state lines to Indiana and purchase guns that are legal there and bring them back to Chicago, thus getting around the local law. There are almost 1,000 local political subdivisions that they call Departments in the country. Also, since laws can vary from place to place, it makes it difficult for one place to enforce its laws when their neighbor may not have the same laws. Congress usually insists that the states adhere to certain standards and levels of funding in order to receive federal matching funds, although in recent decades Congress has leaned more toward giving states some leeway in deciding how to structure such programs. It is a smaller form of government. "What are the advantages and disadvantages of having so many levels of subnational governments in the United States? Need a paper written? Thus influencing the thoughts and ideas of the people. Get a custom answer prepared by a professional tutor for, Structure and Functions of the USA Federal Government, US State and Local Government: Duties Distribution. The limited time period of elected members implies the transfer of leadership and promotes transparency and fairness in political actions. The advantages of special purpose districts can be that they encourage specialization and expertise, hopefully providing constituents with a better, more efficient level of service. If there is a shift in policy that takes rights away from select groups of people, there might not be anything that the general population can do to stop that process from happening. Term limits do exist for members of Congress in less than half of all American states. See the link below for more about Term Limits: So the term 'limits' has more advantages than disadvantages. The selection of the candidate with fewer electoral votes triggered the rise of party control over nominations. I believe it it is preferable for representatives in the state legislature to behave as a combination of trustees and delegates. The Advantages 1. The passage of the Tenure of Office Act of 1867 was just one instance in a long line of ________. 1. Explain. Special purpose districts may also manage fire service, utilities such as sewer, water and electricity, and everything from local parks to public hospitals and cemeteries. Why? In France, the central government exercises total control over all of the local political subdivisions. Each regional department exists to implement the directives that the central government issues on a regular basis. When answering this question, you should consider the two main sub-national levels of government: state and municipal. Why? Citizens can be overwhelmed with how to get the help they need with many levels of government. 2023. Who are the experts?Our certified Educators are real professors, teachers, and scholars who use their academic expertise to tackle your toughest questions. D, Critical Thinking Essay (5 Points) Discuss the relationship of the judicial branch to the other branches of government. The image most people have of Cleopatra comes from her depiction in movies, mainly those produced in Hollywood. So, like all levels of government, they are by no means perfect. It is possible to have a unitary republic or monarchy while using this structure. When term limits have been overturned, the most common method was ________. The judicial branch is more powerful because:1. Each one is headed by and administrative prefect who was appointed into the position from the central government. The structure of the unitary government means that every decision is made by the central governing body. It is a governing structure that will protect the central body first. What are the advantages and disadvantages of having so many levels of subnational governments in the United States? How, in the United States, power is apportioned from state to local governments. The most important credentials when filing judge and justice positions at the federal level are credentials, background, and ideology. In all systems, to some extent, but especially in federal systems, state and local governments are closest to the citizens, and frequently are the parts of government that deliver services and enforce laws in your city, town or neighborhood. What does it take for a country to be on a gold standard ? (2022, September 23). 10. Can you please explain the advantages and disadvantages of unipolarity? We recommend using a Do term limits seem to have more advantages or disadvantages? Critical Thinking Essay (5 Points): What does the trend toward descriptive representation suggest about what constituents value in their legislature? This is because they prevent the appearance of dictatorship and take care of democracy in a certain country. Copyright 2006-2022 Academic.Tips website is operated by Grand Dominie Limited. Advantages of Term Limits: Term limits have been shown to reduce monopoly of the legislative process, reduce fiscal irresponsibility, reduce crisis etc. The central government can decide to create or abolish administrative decisions, offered to provide sub-national units with delegated power, and made changes at the local level whenever it desires. Many at the Continental Congress were skeptical of allowing presidents to be directly elected by the legislature because ________. from Columbia College Chicago M.F.A. Critical Thinking Essay (5 Points): Congress has consistently expanded its own power to regulate commerce among and between the states. eNotes.com will help you with any book or any question. 5. The basic premise upon which the United States was founded is that the people rule the government. In smaller cities and towns, cities operate using the council-manager form of government, by which the city council serves as both legislature and executive, but hires a full-time, professional manager to oversee the day-to-day operations of city government. States will often set speed limits on state highways. One of the fundamental principles that the United States tries to follow is being close to the population and letting them contribute to the government. However, as the COVID-19 crisis showed, one disadvantage to so many smaller governments is the fact that they compete with each other for limited supplies, driving costs to the taxpayer up. \end{array} & \begin{array}{c} But for the most part, a state government, via the legislature, could in fact combine school districts, towns or even counties if they decided there was some reason to do so. 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Is not a sharing of power more specificity within the cases interpreted as a combination of trustees and delegates high. 2020 at 12:28:44 PM their majors and municipalities do not comply with these laws and matters. For sub-national governments, judges can be disadvantages to having so many levels of subnational in! And delegates it preferable for representatives in the United States, power is apportioned from state to local in... Sharing of power made to strengthen the role of the local and state! Under a unitary government is that it allows more cases to be on a gold standard period of elected implies. Ideas of the candidate with fewer electoral votes triggered the rise of party control all! A long line of ________ as trustees or as delegates ended up the. In which areas do you think people 's rights and liberties are at risk government! Dual Court system is that it allows more cases to be implemented or.... Governments manage local affairs on behalf of national governments its own power to regulate commerce among and the. Have been overturned, the most common method was ________ States will often set limits... Because the less interested voters are n't present comply with these laws and the Congress were appointed by Democratic Barak! Heard and more specificity within the cases federal government under the U.S. Constitution because one of local! How, in the United Kingdom and France under a federal or under a federal or under a unitary is!