Federalism in the Constitution is often misunderstood as just states' rights, but it's really about balancing power between state and federal governments for the benefit of the people. Both state and federal officials can sometimes act in their own interests rather than protecting federalism. The distribution of power in federalism needs to be defended against officials who may not prioritize it. The political process doesn't always ensure that federalism is upheld because officials are focused on their own goals. This can lead to the neglect or even surrender of the powers assigned by the Constitution.