Explore the division of power between the different levels of government and evaluate the benefits of a strong centralized government as opposed to decentralized government which would mean states retained more power and or control.

Tension Between the Layers This week you learned about the multiple vertical layers of government: national, state, county, parish, and municipal. The Tenth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution specifically states that the national government only has the powers agreed to by the states; some of those are specifically delegated, some are implied, and others are inherent. The Constitution also clearly identifies those powers that are reserved for the states. This division of power was crafted to provide checks and to balance the power of each of the levels against the others. According to the Article VI of the Constitution, the supremacy clause indicates that states should not be able to write laws that are contrary to national law, which is referred to as the preemption doctrine, but we have seen examples of just that in recent years. Examples include legalizing marijuana in many states and legalizing prostitution in Nevada. Often it comes down to who enforces which law when and where. Prior to beginning work on this assignment, please review:“Big Questions” About Intergovernmental Relations and Management: Who Will Address Them?Links to an external site.Contemporary Intergovernmental RelationsLinks to an external site.Federalism in the United States | US Government and Civics | Khan AcademyLinks to an external site.What Is Intergovernmental Relations?Links to an external site.You are also strongly encouraged to review the recommended resources as they may assist you by providing different perspectives and insight into how decisions on land use shape communities. This paper is your opportunity explore the division of power between the different levels of government and evaluate the benefits of a strong centralized government as opposed to decentralized government which would mean states retained more power and or control. In your paper,