The original confederacy under the Articles of Confederation resulted in a system where nothing got done, due to the lack of any federal executive power. The US

The original confederacy under the Articles of Confederation resulted in a system where nothing got done, due to the lack of any federal executive power. The US Constitution was explicitly designed to balance the power of the federal and state interests. Since the Civil War though, that balance has tipped towards the federal government retaining the power and authority over money. The increase of executive power in the federal system is a two-edged sword. So is the large budget. It lends itself to inefficiencies in spending which are more easily remedied at a state or local level.