Final answer:
The rapid growth of the national government is largely due to an expansion in the interpretation of the Constitution, which has led to broader federal powers over time. This growth reflects changes in the balance between state and federal authority.
Step-by-step explanation:
The rapid growth of the national government is largely attributed to how the interpretation of the Constitution has expanded federal powers. This is evident when examining the Constitution's language and historical applications. For instance, the necessary and proper clause in the Constitution has been interpreted in a way that extends rather than limits the power of the national government, contrasting with the belief that the Founding Fathers intended to create a system that emphasized the rule of law and limited government.
Moreover, the Constitution's federal framework was designed to balance the forces of decentralized and centralized governance, without specifying precisely how policies should be managed. This has given officials at both state and national levels room to navigate within this design, leading to evolving changes in the balance between state and federal authority. James Madison, in Federalist Paper No. 45, noted that the powers granted to the national government were 'few and defined', while powers at the state level were 'numerous and indefinite', leaving significant scope for the expansion of national powers through interpretation and adaptation to changing circumstances.