Document Type
Article
Publication Date
2-2026
Abstract
In December 2025, more than 40 bipartisan state legislative leaders from over 30 states, working through the National Conference of State Legislatures, issued a resolution titled “Federalism Restoration and State Empowerment.” The distinctive feature of American federalism has long been understood to be the distribution of powers between the national and state governments. This foundational element of our system of government—shared sovereignty—warrants revisiting by K-12 teachers and students. Although states may attempt to limit national power in ways such as withholding cooperation, exerting political pressure, and challenging federal authority through legal and institutional channels, this Digest focuses on the role and responsibility of state governments to “sound the alarm” when the federal government exceeds its authority.
Publisher
Center for the Study of Federalism
Publication Title
Federalism Digests
Keywords
American federalism, state governments, sounding-the-alarm, civics education
Recommended Citation
Christian G. Fritz,
Sounding the Alarm: The Role of States in Monitoring the Federal Government,
Federalism Digests
(2026).
Available at:
https://digitalrepository.unm.edu/law_facultyscholarship/979