The Efficiency Of Shared Governance Within A Complex U.S.

Government

Chadwick Anderson

Running head: SHARED GOVERNANCE

Throughout time a common ideological debate amongst individuals ask, How much
government should there be? Too much, the government infringes upon rights. Too little, the
government isnt doing its duty for the people. The better question to then ask is, How
competent is the government? Intergovernmental administration involves managing the
relationships of the varying governmental levels, with the expectation of achieving specific
policy goals (Henry, 2013, p. 411). The United States federal system of governance is shifting
towards a shared governance to keep up with the complexity of its configuration and this is
taking place on every political level. With this modern governance, not only is state and federal
authorities being involved in public policy, private organizations too are being factored into the
formulation and implementation as well. Coinciding with this shift, Nicholas Henrys idea of
intersectoral administration refers to cooperation between government, business, and nonprofit
organizations in governing human society(Harris, 2015, Intersectoral Complexity Lecture
Notes). This would include the public, the market, the nonprofit, the communal, and the selfprovision sectors. Understanding the importance/roles of each division of power, and the past
history of the U.S., one can then discern the advantages and disadvantages of shared governance.
Shared governance encompasses many sectors that together carry out the duties of
our government. The federal and state government derive their power from the constitution,
while local governments power is derived from the state. The tasks of the Federal government
include federal purpose taxing, borrowing on nations credit, conducting foreign relations,
maintaining of postal services, oversee of army/navy, and to make all laws necessary vested by
the Constitution (Harris, 2015, Intergovernmental Administration Lecture Notes). The states role
includes taxing for local purposes, borrowing on the states credit, regulation of trade within the
state, the maintenance of police force while making and enforcing civil and criminal law,

Running head: SHARED GOVERNANCE

providing education, regulating charities, overseeing voting, and to assume powers not delegated
by the constitution. The relationship amongst states is that of equals. However the relationship
among the state and local governments are different. The powers of the local government are not
specified in the Constitution and are known to be Creatures of the State, having no
independence beyond what the state grants them (Henry, 2013, p. 427). Local governments are
known to be an administrative arm carrying out the policies of the state. They tell the local
officials what taxes, services, and management systems to employ (Harris, 2015,
Intergovernmental Administration Lecture Notes). This branch is most chaotic, having wealth
distributed unfairly due to problems being mostly found in the poorer areas. Whenever the public
agencies previously listed are not able to efficiently serve the public interest, non-profit
organizations and private businesses are utilized. These sectors, in particular non-profit, are
extremely underrated.
Federalism is the underlying concept of the power of government within the United
States and permits no single institution the power to hold all authority. The struggle therein lies
trying to maintain federal distinctions between levels of government. Understanding that having
a strong central government is essential, a division of power separated the roles of the federal
and state governments. From this stemmed dual federalism, where the belief that federal and
state branches are co-equal and sovereign. Section 8, Article 1, delegates seventeen specific
powers to the national government, including defense, general welfare, and commerce, and
leaves the remaining powers to the states(Henry, 2013, p. 413). The tenth amendment was then
added to ensure that citizens understood the limits of the federal government stating the powers
not delegated to the United States by the constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are
reserved to the States respectively, or to the people (Edwards, 2009, p. 1).

Running head: SHARED GOVERNANCE

Americas governments have undergone five phases in their administrative relationships

due to the interpretation of the Constitution. These paradigm shifts are referred to as cakes, and
illustrate the magnitude of complexity intergovernmental relations has evolved. Dual federalism
led to the Layer Cake. After the Civil War, the interpretation of the constitution that conceived
states to have all power other than listed in the constitution, fundamentally changed with the
enactment of the 14th amendment (Henry, 2013, p. 413). No state shall deny its citizens equal
protection and due process under law, thus legitimizing and sanctioning the involvement of the
federal government in state matters. With FDRs New Deal Policies, the Marble Cake
originated. Federal government responsibilities began to bleed through with state agendas.
Programs were being funded by the federal government, but ran by the states. Later on, the
Pound Cake signified the federal government acting as a parent, getting too involved. When
people were suffering due to health reasons or education gaps, the federal government stepped in
and placed unfunded mandates on the states towards action. Subsequently the Crumb Cake
metaphor followed, as devolution began to occur. A return of power to the states began, by
shrinking and decentralizing control. All levels of governments started utilizing both non-profit
organizations and private sectors for goods and services. The final shift in administrative
relationships is that of fiscal federalism. This top down relation refers to the financial facet
between state, local, and federal levels (Harris, 2015, Intergovernmental Administration Lecture
Notes). An overwhelming portion of fiscal federalism directly is associated with Grant-in-Aids,
which is the giving of federal funds to a state or local government to support a project or
program. Federal aid given to the states in form of grants is one of the leading causes of the
convolution complicating our government. This is crucial because it is the beginning of states
giving up particular control to the Federal government. Prior to the Civil War, federal

Running head: SHARED GOVERNANCE

subsidizations were deemed unconstitutional on the basis that it would entail federal
governments overstepping boundaries into the responsibilities of the state. However as time
evolved grants were given to states. With the grants came problems; states began competing for
money, federal restrictions and mandates were overwhelming the states, and required matching
funds, which were causing states to overspend in the maintenance and expansion of these
programs (Edwards, 2009). Ultimately these grants begin to represent social issues, which cause
policymakers to get too personally involved, taking them away from national issues, and policy
outcomes have no claimed responsibility amidst the confusion. When every government is
responsible for an activity, no government is responsible(Edwards, 2009, p. 7). This leads to the
advantages and disadvantages of shared governance.
In Holeywells article, the City of Weston, Florida is an example of how modern
governance can be successful. Due to outsourcing and paying contractors to carry out the city
tasks, city officials are able to concentrate on bigger picture issues and not management issues.
The flow of policy from federal to states is then emulated by the states to the local units of
government. Through devolution, services and goods are paid at the local level thus allowing
non-public sectors opportunities to join in. Shared governance results in many pros and cons
according to each particular sector. Weisbrod presents an outlook on non-profit organizations and
the effects it has on federal and local governments, as well as other businesses. As stated
previously, the non-profit sector is an advantage to the public sector due to its capability of
offering services or goods not being provided by the government. Motivations, price, work ethic,
and specific skill offered can set them apart in being a better option. However there are also
disadvantages associated with non-profit organizations mixed with government. For the local
governments a loss of revenue is a worry regarding property taxes. The influx of non-profit

Running head: SHARED GOVERNANCE

companies take up property that could otherwise be used by a for-profit company or individual
who is required to pay property taxes. The concerns continue as the federal government fears
price fixing associated with non-profit establishments being able to more easily reduce costs.
Non-profit associations can offer cooperation with other businesses. For example, scientific
research facilities working with a new food, or a sporting company sponsoring a school athletics
event. On the flip side, a disadvantage accompanying non-profits with other businesses is
competition. A non-profit church may attract admirers to visit the church then taking business
away from other tourist spots.
With non-profit employment becoming on the rise, a shift in government employment
will decline. Due in part to devolution, a transfer of responsibility is ensuing from the federal
government, to the states, to the local governments, to non-governmental organizations, allowing
the specific and unique needs of communities to efficiently be met. When making decisions
surrounding governance, conclusions should be made pragmatically, knowing the benefit that
both businesses and non-profits can deliver depends on the market/ government (Harris, 2013,
Toward a Public Bureaucratic Ethic, Lecture Notes) There needs to be a balance otherwise
tensions are exacerbated, both private sector and the government have critical roles. In regards to
the question asked previously, How competent is the government? It can be considered that the
government has an obligation to show its citizens that it can successfully carry out the duties
required, therefore we should ask ourselves as citizens what we then can do for our country.

Running head: SHARED GOVERNANCE

References

Edwards, Chris (2009). Fiscal federalism. Downsizing the Federal Government, Cato
Institute, February
Harris, Wallace (2015) Intergovernmental Administration Lecture Notes
Harris, Wallace (2015) Intersectoral Complexity Lecture Notes
Harris, Wallace (2015) Toward a Public Bureaucratic Ethic, Lecture Notes.
Henry, Nicholas (2013). Public Administration and Public Affairs. Pearson.
Holeywell, Ryan (2012). How Weston, Florida, a City of 65,000, Gets By On 9
Employees. Governing, 14 May.
Weisbrod, Burton. (1996) The Future of the Nonprofit Sector: Its Entwining with Private
Enterprise and Government. Evanston, IL: Institute for Policy Research, Northwestern U,
Print.