Sharing Power: How Federalism Works in Your Town
The United States uses a system called federalism to divide government power. Instead of one central group making every decision, power is shared between the national government, state governments, and local governments. While the national government handles big issues like national defense, your local government takes care of "public goods" closer to home. These include libraries, parks, fire stations, and trash collection. Local leaders, like mayors or city councils, make decisions about how to spend the community's money to maintain these services. Because they are close to the people they serve, local governments can often respond quickly to community needs.
- Federalism divides power to ensure decisions are made at the most effective level of government.
- Local governments are primarily responsible for maintaining public goods like infrastructure and safety services.
In ACE simulations, knowing which level of government controls a resource is key. You will use the map_stakeholders move to identify who cares about local projects and the allocate_budget move to fund them.
If your town had a budget surplus, would you prioritize fixing old roads or building a new park, and which groups in your community would support your choice?