The History of the Federal System Arguments over the division of powers in the federal system have continued throughout American history. It was a primary argument in the Civil War. It dominated the arguments that occurred over the New Deal and is a basis for arguments over such issues as the Affordable Health Care Act and rights of spouses involved in same sex marriage today. Whether national or state government holds power over an issue is still debated in the United States today as the nation struggles to determine the most effective way to shape and implement public policy. The struggle has often been decided in the Supreme Court with starting with the Marshall Court. Federal Systems The federal system created by the Framers was a compromise between the _ the colonists had experienced while under English rule and the _ created after the United States gained independence. The collective years the founding fathers served as leaders in their states, leaders in the confederation government, and leaders in the revolution against England allowed them to draw on a wealth of experience in writing a new government. The federal system they created was designed to eliminate the problems of the unitary and confederation governments. Despite its increased size and complexity, it still functions well today