Prerogatives and Centralization of the Federal Government

Key Insight

The Union was granted exclusive authority over foreign relations, recognizing that a single government is essential for coherent interactions with other nations. This included the right to make peace and war, negotiate commercial treaties, raise armies, and equip fleets. While internal affairs required less imperative national direction, certain general interests, such as regulating the value of money, managing the postal service, and establishing major communication avenues, were also assigned to the Union.

Although state governments were largely free within their spheres, the federal government was allowed to intervene in state internal affairs in specific, rare cases to prevent actions that might compromise the Union's security. For example, states were prohibited from passing retroactive laws or establishing a body of nobles. To ensure the federal government could meet its obligations, it was given the unlimited right to levy taxes.

Analyzing this division, the framers demonstrated clear ideas about governmental centralization. The United States, as a confederation, exhibited national authority more centralized in some aspects than absolute monarchies in Europe. For instance, unlike France with its thirteen sovereign courts and tax-refusing provinces, the Union had a single tribunal for law interpretation and a single legislature whose voted taxes were binding on all citizens. Similarly, unlike Spain where provinces could set customs, only Congress in America could regulate interstate commerce, indicating a higher degree of centralization in these critical areas.