Power should remain divided
Checks and balances reduce unilateral action and force public debate before major policy changes.
Federalist No. 51
All issues
Conservative policy brief
Limited Government
State sovereignty, separation of powers, and protection from government overreach.
Publication standard
Editorial analysis is labeled. Candidate scores stay hidden until there is enough source-linked evidence to publish.
Read the scoring methodologyWhat this page measures
This issue tracks limited federal power, state sovereignty, regulatory overreach, mandates, federalism, agency rulemaking, and executive overreach.
The policy lens
The conservative case
Editorial analysisConcentrated power is harder for citizens to monitor and correct. Conservative government limits federal authority to enumerated powers, keeps decisions close to the people, requires legislative accountability for major rules, and protects states from unnecessary federal control.
Reserved powers belong outside Washington
Authority not delegated to the federal government remains with states or the people.
Tenth Amendment
Major rules need accountable lawmakers
Congress should vote on consequential national policy instead of transferring open-ended authority to agencies.
Article I and nondelegation principle
Evidence checklist
What to watch in the public record
CHECK 01
Votes that preempt state authority
CHECK 02
Support for returning programs or discretion to states
CHECK 03
Regulatory reform and congressional approval of major rules
CHECK 04
Whether federalism arguments survive the priorities of a member’s own party
Published candidate records
Candidate alignment
Rankings appear only when a score has enough source-linked evidence and confidence to publish.
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