Why is the University of Utah launching a federalism/American governance initiative?

SALT LAKE CITY — When the 2025 Legislature demanded Utah's public degree-granting institutions reallocate millions in state budget dollars to "high value" programs, the University of Utah signaled intentions to launch a "civic engagement" initiative.

This week, the state's flagship university articulated its plan — launching a presidential initiative on federalism, law and American governance.

The new civics initiative comes at a historic moment. This year, the United States is observing its quarter-millennial — or 250th — anniversary.

"The initiative situates the university's work within a broader moment of national reflection on the constitutional principles, governing institutions, and civic responsibilities that have shaped the American experiment," according to a school release.

University of Utah President Taylor Randall, the release added, is committed to continuing the school's "legacy of socially impactful scholarly engagement" by exploring questions of human dignity, freedom, responsibility and civic life.

"Universities exist to pursue enduring questions and to prepare students to lead in moments of uncertainty and change," said Randall.

"At their best, they provide space for rigorous inquiry into the ideas, values, and institutions that have defined the American experiment and will guide its future."

The civics initiative, the school added, will focus on examining federalism, law and governance — including the study of how free societies organize authority and balance power.

Federalism is a system of government where authority is divided between a central government and state and local governments — with each holding distinct powers.

Initiative highlights will include public engagement and developing student programs.

The university also announced that former West Virginia University President Emeritus Gordon Gee and former American Enterprise Institute President and Harvard Kennedy School professor Arthur C. Brooks will serve as the initiative's inaugural external advisory board members.

"At a time of rapid technological change, global instability, and growing civic fragmentation, there is increasing demand for educational environments that foster careful reasoning, respectful discourse, and deep engagement across difference," said Gee in the university news release.

"This initiative aims to address that demand by fostering inquiry into classical traditions and the human values that inform individual and collective decision-making."

University of Utah law professors Paul Cassell and Jason Iuliano were appointed co-directors of the presidential initiative. The two will focus on shaping the agenda and coordinating research and engagement activities, according to the school.

University leaders added that the initiative will "build on the university's legacy in teaching the classics" — particularly the Honors College's "Intellectual Traditions of the West" courses — as well as the Hinckley Institute of Politics public forums and Washington, D.C., and Capitol Hill internship programs.

Heightened local interest in federalism

The University of Utah's initiative comes amid heightened local interest in federalism and American governance. During last year's legislative session, Utah lawmakers passed 18 bills dealing with federalism principles.

Some bills focused on education around federalism and enforcing Utah's state sovereignty granted through the Constitution. Others focused on the application of federalism for specific issues such as water and public lands.

Rep. Ken Ivory, R-West Jordan, who sponsored several of these bills and is a federalism advocate, explained to the Deseret News last year why it matters.

"It's a big deal because only by maintaining the balance in that state-federal relationship do people have their greatest governing voice, right? Their governing voice is at the state level," Ivory said.

He added that the government was designed so that life, liberty, property and other aspects of daily life are determined at the state level, where people can better influence policy.

"We believe that actually the state functions better and can serve the people better than the federal government can. So federalism has always been a premise of our effort," noted Senate President Stuart Adams, R-Layton.

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