Marcia Amidon Lusted 
States’ Rights and the Role of the Federal Government 

The balance of power between states and the federal government has long been a point of contention. In an era when one political party controls the three branches of the federal government, the possibility to employ states’ rights to resist objectionable federal policy has made it a highly contemporary issue. With states’ rights at the center of issues like sanctuary cities, abortion, gun control, and LGBTQ rights, understanding the distribution of power between state and federal government is key to grasping the current political climate and the future of American politics.