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"It's sometimes useful for non-Americans to think of the U.S. like a federation of weak semi-autonomous countries." That would be helpful if it would be true. I
by AdrianB1 8y ago
"It's sometimes useful for non-Americans to think of the U.S. like a federation of weak semi-autonomous countries."
That would be helpful if it would be true. In old' Europe a the equivalent of a county or city does not have any power to enact and enforce legislation, all the laws are country-wide and enforced by the national police; the only local law enforcement is for parking and minor (no criminal record) misdemeanors.
From what I know many counties in US have the power to regulate areas that can be felonies if disobeyed (like gun regulations), something like that is unbelievable around here.
- jganetsk 8y agoI think the post was referring to states, not counties, when referring to "countries".
- AdrianB1 8y agoYes, it was about states, but these states are not equivalent to European states, but with counties because in Europe the lowest level to adopt a law is the state, in US is the county.
- pard68 8y agoEven this rule isn't always true. In Virginia a city can be independent, which means the city and county are the same government. It New England, where counties don't really have much power and the towns have the power that counties generally have in other States. Or Connecticut, where counties only exist because there are federal forms you cannot complete without listing a county. I am sure there are other exceptions too, but these are the places I have lived, and thus know.
- kiriakasis 8y ago> Europe the lowest level to adopt a law is the state This does not really makes any sense. Scotland has a parliament, in Italy some regions have special local powers, and I believe many other countries have various kinds of exceptions.