How is Congress affected by the federal design of the Constitution? What kinds of conflict are inevitable in such a system? Name some specific conflicts of this sort that have required resolution in the Supreme Court

Question

Go on to consider how federalism infuses "localism" into congressional affairs.

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

An ideal response will:
1, Explain that in our federal system, some powers and responsibilities are granted to the national government, some are shared between the national government and the states, and some are reserved for the states.
2, Explain that in our federalist system conflicts will occur between state governments and the national government and its legislative branch.
3, Note conflicts that have reached the Supreme Court for resolution, such as in 2012, when the Court upheld the mandate in the Affordable Care Act for everyone to have health insurance but rejected Congress's use of the commerce clause to justify the requirement; by doing so, the Court signaled that it was anxious to further cut back the powers of the national government relative to the states.
4, Explain that federalism also infuses "localism" into congressional affairs because the members of the Senate and the House come to Washington as the representatives of states anddistricts; they are elected by and are beholden to the voters and interest groups at home even as they struggle with weighty issues of national importance.