Federalism

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Federalism
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Federalism Definition

• A system of government in which power is divided
  by a constitution between a central government
  and regional governments.
• Some federal countries
• U.S.A.
• Canada
• Mexico
• Germany
• Switzerland
• Australia
• Perhaps the European Union some day?

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Why is America a Federal Country?

• The necessity of drafting a Constitution that
  would be acceptable to the states.
• Each state had the choice to accept or reject the
  Constitution.
• They joined the union of their own free will.
• Would they have joined if they had to give up all
  their power to the central government?

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The 2 Constitutional Bases of Federalism

• Delegated Powers
• Powers explicitly granted to the federal govt in
  the Constitution.
• Logically, whatever is not granted must remain
  with the states as reserved powers.
• 10th Amendment
• The powers not delegated to the United States by
  the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the
  States, are reserved to the States respectively,
  or to the people.

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Federal Distribution of Power
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Advantages Disadvantages

• Advantages
• Increased Flexibility of Policy Responses.
• One size does not fit all problems.
• States can usually solve their own problems
  better than the federal govt can.
• Enhances Democracy.
• Keeps govt closer to the citizens.
• Allows citizens to choose policy packages offered
  by competing states (vote with their feet).
• Reduces Conflict.
• Citizens can self-sort (if you dont like high
  taxes, dont move to Massachusetts, a.k.a.,
  Taxachussetts).
• Promotes Policy Experimentation.
• States can be laboratories of democracy.
• E.g., experimentation with better welfare
  programs led to welfare reform.

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Advantages Disadvantages

• Disadvantages
• Difficulty of Coordination.
• Getting the states to work together can be like
  herding cats.
• Local Biases May Predominate.
• Local elites may rule unpopular minorities may
  be shut out of political process unless federal
  government steps in
• E.g., African-Americans in the South before the
  Civil Rights movement.
• May Promote Regional Conflict.
• Sectional problemslike North v. South in the
  Civil War.
• Red state/Blue state.
• States May Engage in Cut-Throat Competition.
• May have a race to the bottom, cutting taxes
  and environmental protections as they try to
  attract economic development.

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American Federalism Timeline
1861 - 1865 Civil War Resolved the Question
of a Confederation vs. a Nation Federal
Government Has Ultimate Authority Over the States

• 1789 1937 Dual Federalism
• Federal Govt and States Each Sovereign in Their
  Discrete Spheres of Authority

1929 1945 Great Depression Demand for
Federal Government to Take Responsibility for
the Economy
1937 1980s Cooperative Federalism Fede
ral Govt Increasingly Co-opts State Authority
1980s - Present New Federalism? Federal
Govt Increasingly Reinvigorates State Authority
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American Federalism Timeline
1860s Civil War
1787 Constitution Adopted
1930s Great Depression
1980s to Present
Federal Supremacy
Dual Federalism
Cooperative Federalism
New Federalism
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Grants The Method of Federal Control

• Grants-in-Aid Federal Money Given to States
  Communities.
• Categorical Grants To be used for specific
  purposes.
• Build a bridge on Beecher St. over the River
  Raisin.
• Block Grants Grants given for a general
  purpose, but with few specific restrictions on
  how its used.
• to repair roadsstate decides where its
  needed.
• Revenue Sharing Money given with no restrictions
  on use.
• Tried under Nixon, but Congress likes more
  control.

• No federal authority over speed limits.
• In 1974 Congress made road funds (categorical
  grants) conditional upon states adopting 55 mph.
  limit in order to save gas.
• That condition was repealed in 1995.

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Thats Also Why . . .

• . . . You cant buy beer until youre 21!
• You can thank Ronald Reagan for that,
• Even though he claimed to support New Federalism!!

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The End

• Tune in next time for our exciting show on
  Separation of Powers!