Abstract

Cooperative federalism is a concept in political science and governance that refers to a system of federalism in which the federal government, state governments, and local governments work together to achieve common goals and solve problems. In a cooperative federalism system, there is a sharing of power and responsibility between the different levels of government rather than a strict division of authority. This means that each level of government has its own powers and responsibilities, but they also work together to address issues that require a coordinated effort. Under a cooperative federalism system, rather than a rigid separation of authority, multiple levels of government share power and responsibilities. This implies that while each level of government has its own rights and responsibilities, they also collaborate to handle situations that necessitate a collaborative effort. Cooperative federalism is often contrasted with dual federalism, which emphasises the separation of powers and responsibilities between the federal government and state governments. In a dual federalism system, the federal government has limited powers and is primarily responsible for national defence and foreign policy, while state governments have more autonomy and control over domestic issues. Cooperative federalism is a model of governance that describes the relationship between the federal government and state governments in a federal system. Under this model, the federal government and state governments work together to achieve common goals and address issues of national importance. The concept emphasises the sharing of responsibilities and resources and collaboration on policies and programs that benefit both levels of government and their citizens. The model allows for a degree of flexibility in how states implement federal policies and programs while providing funding and guidance from the federal government. Cooperative federalism is an alternative to other models of federalism, such as dual federalism, where the federal and state governments operate independently.

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