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Making Federalism Work (for Democracy)

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  • Rocco, Philip
  • Nolette, Paul

Abstract

Can American federalism serve as a check on central authoritarianism? As formal structures go, federalism’s effectiveness as an institutional constraint on central authoritarianism appears limited. Yet, as we argue in this article, the federal structure provides creative political actors with a repository of legal, fiscal, and organizational resources to contest authoritarian rule. Realizing this potential, however, will require rebuilding subnational civic infrastructures. Moreover, it will require state and local officials to employ their existing authority in new ways to expose the material consequences of authoritarian actions, increase the costs of these actions, and reduce the costs of dissent and resistance. We conclude that realizing federalism’s democratic potential depends on political choices rather than structural guarantees.

Suggested Citation

  • Rocco, Philip & Nolette, Paul, 2026. "Making Federalism Work (for Democracy)," SocArXiv u7qa2_v1, Center for Open Science.
    • Handle: RePEc:osf:socarx:u7qa2_v1
    DOI: 10.31219/osf.io/u7qa2_v1
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Jacobs, Ken & McBride, Justin & Smith, Rebecca, 2021. "State and Local Policies and Sectoral Labor Standards: From Individual Rights to Collective Power," Institute for Research on Labor and Employment, Working Paper Series qt9kt2b751, Institute of Industrial Relations, UC Berkeley.
    2. Ken Jacobs & Rebecca Smith & Justin McBride, 2021. "State and Local Policies and Sectoral Labor Standards: From Individual Rights to Collective Power," ILR Review, Cornell University, ILR School, vol. 74(5), pages 1132-1154, October.
    3. James A Gardner, 2026. "Can Federalism Protect Subnational Liberal Democracy from Central Authoritarianism?," Publius: The Journal of Federalism, CSF Associates Inc., vol. 56(1), pages 22-48.
    4. Marc Sanjaume-Calvet & Lesley-Ann Daniels & Pau Bossacoma Busquets, 2025. "Territorial Conflict in the Spotlight: Unveiling Paths to Territorial Clarity," Publius: The Journal of Federalism, CSF Associates Inc., vol. 55(1), pages 201-221.
    5. Paul Nolette & Philip Rocco, 2026. "Introduction: The Future of Federalism in the United States," Publius: The Journal of Federalism, CSF Associates Inc., vol. 56(1), pages 1-21.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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