Select one topic from the following list of two constitutional issues:
- Free Speech
- Privacy Rights
For this assignment, you need to discuss one positive and one negative impact of federalism on the issue you selected. Once you have discussed those impacts, you are expected to evaluate which impact is the most significant on your issue and discuss the reasons behind that evaluation.Â
For example, if your topic were to be about regulation of commerce, federalism impacts regulation of commerce in a positive way by setting nationwide safety and building standards for highways, railroads, and airfields. Federalism could impact regulation of commerce in a negative way by forcing states to adhere to nationwide speed limits and safety laws that may not take into consideration local conditions and needs.Â
If you were going to look at equal protection under the law, one could argue that federalism has positively impacted equal protection of the law. The Fourteenth Amendment was critical in reducing racial discrimination because of landmark rulings like Brown v. Board of Education. On the other hand, federalism initially enabled states to treat their citizens differently based on the color of their skin. Supreme Court rulings such as Plessy v. Ferguson allowed the states to segregate blacks and whites as long as the states provided “separate, but equal facilities.â€Â
For this paper, utilize the Constitution, established case law, and scholarly sources to discuss both sides of the argument and then provide a logical argument why one impact is more significant.Â
Write: Your paper should be organized into the following sections and should:
- Introduce the selected issue and the direction of the paper (1/2 page)
- Discuss one positive impact of federalism on the selected issue. (1 page)
- Discuss one negative impact of federalism on the selected issue. (1 page)
- Evaluate which impact is the most significant and discuss why. (1 page)
- Conclude and summarize the main findings of the paper. (1/2 page)
