American Federalism at 250: the Enduring Legacy of the Federal Idea in a Divided Nation

FAIN: FEJ-309455-25

Andrew Scott Bibby
Utah Valley University (Orem, UT 84058-0001)

Research and writing towards a book on the history and future of American federalism.

American federalism is often considered the revolutionary generation’s unique contribution to democratic theory and practice. Today, more than half the world’s population lives in some kind of federal system. Nearly 250 years ago, the idea of dividing sovereignty across different tiers of government was viewed as radical, even impossible. The American Revolution gave rise to a profound rethinking of political power, and it culminated in a new form of government, what Madison called “The Compound Republic.” Highly imperfect, and vigorously debated, it was accepted on the assumption that it would secure a few key advantages: checking centralized power, keeping government close to the people, and accommodating diversity in a pluralistic society. This book project traces the intellectual and constitutional history of these ideals and explains the surprising persistence of the federal idea in the United States, despite recurring—and often overstated—claims of its demise.