Why are states called "laboratories of democracy"? States are not bound by constitutions to a particular way of doing things, so they experiment. The federal government experiments with policies by ordering the states to try them first. Most new social policy ideas are tried by one or two states before being adopted by other states or by the federal government. The term comes from the nineteenth century,when state politics were more scientific than the machine politics of cities.

The term "laboratories of democracy" refers to the idea that states can experiment with new policies and ideas, and if they are successful, other states or the federal government can adopt them. This concept is based on the idea that states are not bound by constitutions to a particular way of doing things, so they can experiment with different approaches to governance and policy-making.<br /><br />The term originated in the nineteenth century, when state politics were seen as more scientific than the machine politics of cities. It suggests that states can serve as testing grounds for new ideas and innovations, and that the federal government can learn from the successes and failures of state-level experiments before implementing them on a national scale.<br /><br />In practice, this means that most new social policy ideas are tried by one or two states before being adopted by other states or by the federal government. For example, a state may implement a new education policy or healthcare program, and if it is successful, other states may adopt similar policies or the federal government may implement a similar program on a national level.<br /><br />Overall, the concept of states as "laboratories of democracy" emphasizes the importance of state-level innovation and experimentation in the development of effective and efficient policies.