The Essential John C. Calhoun
So who was this John C. Calhoun, someone who has so many sticky burrs attached to his reputation? And why turn our attention to him in this year of 2025?
1. Constitutional Federalism
Is a system whereby a written constitution divides and shares powers between a General Government and constituent state governments with each having it own guaranteed authority to govern. The United States Constitution, for example, outlines the division of power between the General Government and the states with powers not explicitly given to the General Government reserved for the states by the Tenth Amendment.
Some examples:
The General Government’s powers are limited to specific areas such as declaring war, regulating interstate commerce, printing money, and foreign policy.
The powers reserved for the states include local infrastructure, police departments, public education, and, yes, drivers licenses.
Such is embedded in the United States Constitution and is not just an historical development. In essence, the purpose is to ensure that power is both centralized and decentralized allowing for governance at different levels while maintaining a unified framework under the…
I can use a solid history lesson every day. I appreciate your sharing of our history less we forget history’s valuable lessons.