what is the constitutional basis of federalism?
http://www.usconstitution.net/consttop_fedr.html
The constitutional basis of federalism in the United States can be found primarily in two key provisions of the U.S. Constitution: the Supremacy Clause and the Tenth Amendment.
1. Supremacy Clause: Found in Article VI, Clause 2 of the Constitution, the Supremacy Clause establishes that the Constitution, along with the federal laws and treaties made under it, shall be the supreme law of the land. This means that federal laws and the Constitution itself take precedence over conflicting state laws or provisions. This clause ensures that the federal government has authority over certain areas of governance.
2. Tenth Amendment: The Tenth Amendment, part of the Bill of Rights, states that "The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people." This amendment recognizes that certain powers are vested in the federal government, while other powers are reserved for the states or the people. It reinforces the principle of federalism by preserving the states' authority in areas not specifically granted to the federal government.
To understand the constitutional basis of federalism, it is essential to read and analyze the relevant provisions of the U.S. Constitution, specifically Articles I, II, III, and VI, along with the Tenth Amendment. These sections outline the distribution of powers between the federal government and the states, shedding light on the principles of federalism in the United States.