State governments have certain powers that can act as a counterbalance to federal policies, including those proposed in “Agenda 47.”
The U.S. system of federalism allows states to have their own exclusive powers, as well as concurrent powers they share with the federal government⁶.
For instance, states can pass laws and implement policies that reflect their own constituents’ needs and values, which may differ from federal initiatives.
However, the extent to which state governments can shield from federal policies is not absolute. While states have significant autonomy, federal laws generally supersede state laws due to the Supremacy Clause of the U.S. Constitution. This means that while states can challenge federal policies through legal means and choose not to prioritize the enforcement of certain federal laws, they cannot nullify federal law outright⁹.
In the context of “Agenda 47,” many of the proposals would face practical or legal challenges, and it’s likely that there would be a complex interplay between state and federal actions if such policies were attempted to be implemented¹. States could potentially resist certain aspects of the agenda through legal challenges, legislation, or by leveraging their powers to manage local issues. However, the specifics would depend on the individual policies and the legal interpretations at the time.
Source: Conversation with Bing, 3/25/2024
(1) The relationship between the states and the federal government. https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/us-government-and-civics/us-gov-foundations/us-gov-relationship-between-the-states-and-the-federal-government/a/relationship-between-the-states-and-the-federal-government-article.
(2) Do states have to listen to the federal government? — RDI. https://rdi.org/articles/do-states-have-to-listen-to-the-federal-government/.
(3) PolitiFact | Did Donald Trump make these 27 campaign promises? Fact …. https://www.politifact.com/article/2023/oct/26/did-donald-trump-make-these-27-campaign-promises-f/.
(4) ‘Agenda 47': What Trump Has Promised If He Wins In 2024. https://www.barrons.com/news/agenda-47-what-trump-has-promised-if-he-wins-in-2024-79bb3dd9.
(5) Agenda 47: The GOP’s dystopian nightmare plan for America revealed. https://www.rawstory.com/raw-investigates/agenda-47/.
(6) Agenda 47: The GOP’s dystopian nightmare plan for America revealed. https://www.alternet.org/agenda-47-the-gop-s-dystopian-nightmare-plan-for-america-revealed/.
(7) Be very afraid: Trump’s “Agenda 47" is no joke | Salon.com. https://www.salon.com/2023/07/14/be-very-afraid-agenda-47-is-no-joke/.
(8) The relationship between the states and the federal government (article …. https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/us-government-and-civics/us-gov-foundations/us-gov-relationship-between-the-states-and-the-federal-government/a/relationship-between-the-states-and-the-federal-government-lesson-overview.
(9) Federalism and the Constitution — Library of Congress. https://bing.com/search?q=state+governments%27+power+against+federal+policies.
(10) Understanding States’ Rights and the 10th Amendment — ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/states-rights-4582633.
