Protecting Rights and Liberties

Federalism contributes significantly to the protection of individual rights and liberties in this nation. While many of the opponents of the Constitution were afraid that the national government would not respect the rights of the people, there have been several instances in which the national government has stepped in to stop the abuse of individual rights at the state level. The integration of the University of Alabama, the enforcement of the Voting Rights Act, and the investigations and prosecutions of individuals and organizations that discriminate on the basis of race or sex are but a few examples of such efforts.

While the times when the national government has intervened to stop abuses in the states tend to receive more attention, there have been a number of cases in which the states have stepped in to protect their residents from the encroachments of the national government. Federalism has provided dual protection of civil rights and liberties because national and state governments have an equally important role to play in their protection. Some prominent examples include the protection of land use rights (especially in western states) and countless state efforts to minimize the influence and intrusiveness of the national government.