Federalism and it's Importance in the midst of COVID-19
During these trying times it is essential to understand why some states are more "open", what allows states to do this, and why it is vital to protect our country. Across the US COVID-19, a deadly virus originating from the Wuhan province of China, has decimated communities from Alaska to Maine. The severity across individual states however, has varied greatly. Take Montana for example, a state with just over 500 cases of COVID and 17 deaths. Then look at the New York, a heavily population-dense state with over 350,000 cases of COVID and 25,000+ deaths.
It is with this data in mind that an explanation for why many states are at different stages (Phase 1, Phase 2, etc,.) in reopening. If there aren't many people contracting this virus and passing it on to others, why force a person to keep their business shut? Why prevent parents from being able to put food on the table for their children? The answer is simple, parents should be able to work to provide for their families. If there is not a significant health risk a person should be able to open up their business.
What allows states to do this?
Federalism, a guiding principle set forth by the founding fathers and enshrined in the US Constitution. It is the belief in a government composed by two ruling entities- representatives of states and representatives of the federal government. Federalism calls that certain powers to be used by solely states (stay at home orders, state of emergency, etc), and others by solely the federal government (declarations of war, trade agreements etc,.).
Powers to the states are spoken of in the 10th Amendment to the US Constitution which states that “The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.”
Why is this Important?
Federalism allows states to reopen when they are ready, not anyone else. For if farmers in Iowa had to wait until stores in New York could open, who knows where the country would be right now.
“Cases in the U.S.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 29 May 2020, www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/cases-updates/cases-in-us.html
Monk, Linda. “State Powers.” PBS, Public Broadcasting Service, 2013, www.pbs.org/tpt/constitution-usa-peter-sagal/federalism/state-powers/.