Pros and Cons about a Unitary Government?

Answer 1

Cons: (personal opinion)

I disagree with the statement that Federalism is no longer necessary because most issues are either national or global in scope. The U.S. would be better off with a unitary government, because I believe that a unitary government (no state-governments) would be given too much dominant power. Right now as it is, state-governments exist, under the 10th amendment, the Constitution restates the principle of federalism by providing that powers not granted to the national government nor prohibited to the states by the constitution of the United States are reserved to the states or the people. So if the nation presently follows a unitary government system, we would break the constitution, and set a huge risk for national chaos. The statement "in scope" is pertaining to the theory that most issues are of national government jurisdiction, but what about the things the national government doesn't have jurisdiction to? Like the powers of the national government that were not granted in the constitution, or powers that were not prohibited to the states? Under amendment 10, the states get those powers, and I definitely don't think that 38 states would ratify an amendment that would repeal the 10th amendment, which gives the states governmental powers. The states currently participate in determining national policy and administering national programs, if federalism wasn't necessary, and we were controlled under a unitary government, states wouldn't have say in national policy, the only type of government would be empowered by the national government, so the national government would be the only thing that would determine national policy, I don't think this is a smart idea. Also, states have jurisdiction over public services, schooling and law enforcement, and public decisions. People always argue and question the limits of national power, and a lot of people argue that it has too much, so why, under a unitary government, give it all to one side?