On the Formation of American Federalism - A Perspective of Institutional Change Theory

[Abstract] system of institutional change is the alternative, transformation and transaction processes. Regime change theory can reveal the transition from one system to another system "black box" behind the law, the replacement system for our Research and innovation to provide theoretical guidance . This article from the theory of institutional change in the exogenous and endogenous change of changing the two angles formed American federal system, in order for us to better grasp the formation of the U.S. federal system to provide a new perspective.

[Keywords:] United States federal system, exogenous changes in evolution theory of endogenous change

I. Theory of Institutional Change

Institutional change is the replacement of the system, conversion and transaction process is to produce the new system and abandon the process of combining the old system. Institutional change is a dynamic process. In this process, who launched institutional change involved, why should the system change, how institutional change, institutional change effectiveness and other issues. North American institutional change theorists believe that "institutional change is the system of creation, change and change was broken with the practice of the way, the parameters of structural changes, including technical, population, property and government control of resources, it is institutional change constitutes a source of long-term Economic growth. "
In general, there are two causes of institutional change, namely, changes in exogenous and endogenous change. Exogenous change is not part of the system due to some changes in social factors specific system caused by the changes. These factors in long-term evolution accumulation, these cumulative variables can be Economic in nature, it can be political, military, and even the concept of nature, such as population growth and migration, technological progress, the rise and spread of other religions. Change is the system of endogenous the evolution of internal disharmony caused. is the source of institutional change within the system, present in all living under the system of conflicts of interest among actors. changes in external conditions generally only by internal factors, in order to accelerate or slow the process of institutional change.

Theory of institutional change can reveal changes from one system to another system "black box" behind the rule change for our Research and innovation system provides a theoretical guidance. Social development is a microcosm of the history of the system, a system change history, institutional change theory of institutional innovation, change, transformation has a unique explanatory power. below, I will combine the specific analysis of institutional change theory to the formation of the U.S. federal system.


Second, the formation of American Federalism

Early implementation of the United States is a confederation of 13 states approved by .1781 effect on the <<Confederation>> marked the country as a confederation. But confederation is not suitable for U.S. conditions .1787 U.S. Constitution created a new political system model, that federalism. system of federalism is the creation of the embodiment of change. We can change from the system perspective to analyze the causes of the formation of the United States federal.

First, from the perspective of exogenous change. Exogenous change is not part of the system due to some changes in social factors specific system caused by the changes. The United States after independence, the beginning of the establishment of the confederation, the states great power, can issuing currency, taxation, recruitment and maintenance of the military. the central government in addition have diplomatic rights, outside the right post, no other rights, the central and local non-binding. With the further development of the U.S. economy, further demonstrated the shortcomings of confederation out. As between the states independent of each other, market segmentation, currency and tax system is not unified, and the members of serious trade friction, while the central government has no right to interfere with coordination, which have greatly hindered the common Economic interests of all Member States. Meanwhile This also affected the national identity and national unity. "I recognize that the United States is not independent of each other are separated by the dispersion and composition of the territory, but a contiguous, vast fertile country, freedom of future generations as part of the West." transfer affixed to the Research Papers Download http://www.hi138.com Second, endogenous change perspective. endogenous change is caused by lack of coordination within the system evolution. is the source of institutional change within the system present in all living under the system conflicts of interest among actors. practiced in Early America confederation member states severely restricted the political, Economic, military and other effective development, the establishment of a strong central government increasing demands .1787 Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia to complete this mission. Federal Constitution put forward four basic principles, clearly defined the new central government that the federal government and state power relations.

First, the federal government to implement a power-driven separation of powers. This new separation of powers, the power to re-build the framework of the United States, is conducive to safeguarding national unity. Second, the implementation of federal and state governments were entitled to principle. total exercise of the right to make up for each other because of decentralization due to isolation, but also strengthened the exercise of state power is reasonable. Third, the implementation of the federal government and restricted the power of the principle of state government. prohibiting the use of the right to become U.S. federal system in a control mechanism. Because of its existence, the federal government's power is not unlimited expansion and development of centralized political, in order to protect the interests of the state; state government will not result in the development of Uncooperative separatism, resulting in the country disintegrated, thus effectively safeguarding the national unification. Fourth, the implementation of the federal Constitution and federal law as the supreme law of the principle. Under this provision, all with the federal Constitution and federal laws conflict with state law, shall be null and void.

During the end of confederation federal chaos, so that the operation of state power on the right track. This new political system model has been highly praised as "free and absolute rule of the harmony between the most successful." We can from the U.S. federal a glimpse of the formation of traces of institutional change. Of course, the U.S. federal system is not static, as Woodrow Wilson said • "state government is the relationship between the federal government in our constitutional system, the most important issue ... ... In fact, Which generation of people can not be resolved, because the problem is growing, each new period of political and Economic development gave it added new content, making it a new problem. "This sentence tells the theory of institutional change substance.


References:
[1] Lu Xianxiang. New Institutional Economics. University Press ,2007.460-461.

[2] Douglas • North. Economic History Structure and Change. Shanghai Joint Publishing, 1991. 225.

[3] Hu Guoqing. American Federal formation and development. Http://blog.whjy.net/user1/1332/25074.html, 2008.3.12.

[4] • James Madison and so on. Federalist Papers. E-books, http://www.huilin.info/fxsy/westbook/Lianbang/Lianbang02.html. Reposted elsewhere in the Research Papers Download http://www . hi138.com