If you want to know what our Constitutional republic is supposed to look like, the federal government has these enumerated powers.
The enumerated powers of the federal government, as outlined in Article I, Section 8 of the United States Constitution, are:
*Enumerated Powers*
1. Coin money and regulate currency
2. Regulate commerce among states and with foreign nations
3. Establish uniform laws on bankruptcy
4. Issue patents and copyrights
5. Establish post offices and postal roads
6. Create federal courts inferior to the Supreme Court
7. Punish counterfeiting
8. Declare war
9. Raise and support armies
10. Provide for a navy
11. Make rules for the military
12. Call forth the militia to enforce laws, suppress insurrections, and repel invasions
13. Provide for organizing, arming, and disciplining the militia
14. Exercise exclusive legislation over the District of Columbia
15. Make laws necessary for executing these powers (Necessary and Proper Clause)
Additionally, the Constitution grants other powers through:
*Other Powers*
1. The Supremacy Clause (Article VI, Clause 2): Federal law supersedes state law.
2. The Treaty Clause (Article II, Section 2): The President negotiates treaties.
3. The Appointments Clause (Article II, Section 2): The President appoints federal officials.
These powers establish the federal government's authority and limitations.
Everything outside of these powers was meant to be acceded to the states, which then accede local powers.
The framers recognized that the closer citizens were to the decision makers, the more easily they could be held accountable. Citizens who oppose state policy can relocate to a state where governance is more to their liking.
Decentralization under Trump will put us back on a Constitutional footing, increase voter oversight and massively reduce the cost of the federal government.