Each election now feels like a fight for survival. That’s not just about politics; it’s the result of too much governing power shifting from the states to Washington. When one administration can tilt the entire system, elections inevitably feel existential.
The Constitution created what James Madison called a compound republic: two governments, each with distinct responsibilities. The federal government was designed for national concerns like defense, diplomacy and civil rights. The states were meant to govern close to the people, tailoring solutions to their own communities. When that balance is respected, government is accountable and resilient. When it isn’t, the result is polarization, unsustainable debt and a one-size-fails-all approach that flattens the diversity of our 50 laboratories of democracy.
With its pioneering spirit, Utah is taking steps to restore balance. The catalyst for the National Federalism Initiative (NFI) was the passage of HB488 Federalism Amendments, a bipartisan, state-led effort to rebuild the governing partnership our Founders envisioned. It is founded upon three main pillars for returning governing focus to structure over politics:
The NFI’s three pillars
- Educate: Provide continuing education for state leaders and citizens on the proper roles of state and federal government.
- Engage: Build a broad, bipartisan coalition of state leaders to restore and maintain balance.
- Elevate: Host the first NFI Summit this fall in Utah’s mountains, bringing together policymakers, scholars and civic leaders to chart a sustainable course for the next 250 years.
Why both parties should care
Federalism is not about weakening government; it is about making it work. Utah’s leadership shows federalism can be championed even when partisan incentives suggest otherwise. With a coalition of states, the NFI amplifies smaller states’ voices with the federal government.
For Democrats, federalism gives progressive states room to innovate without waiting on federal waivers. It allows Democrats in red states to partner with allies elsewhere to call out federal overreach — even under a Republican administration.
And vice versa for Republicans in blue states. For Republicans, federalism reinforces limited government and restores accountability to leaders closest to their constituents — even when Democrats control D.C.
Both parties gain from placing responsibility where accountability lives: in state capitols, close to the people. That lowers the temperature in Washington and elevates governing solutions tailored to diverse state priorities.
Federalism was the Framers’ insight that freedom is protected not by one government, but by two. Let us rise above partisanship and recommit to the unique structure of American government that safeguards liberty and empowers the people. We invite leaders from Massachusetts to Montana, Arizona to Alaska, to join us — so that the voices of all 50 states can rise together, and freedom can ring across the nation for generations to come.