Federalism

Chapter3

GovernmentalStructure• Federalism:apoliticalsystemwherelocalgovernmentunitscanmakefinaldecisionsregardingsomegovernmentalactivitiesandwhoseexistenceisprotected

• UnitarySystem:localgovernmentsaresubservienttothenationalgovernment

HotIssues• SomeofthehottestissuesinAmericanpoliticsare,attheircore,disputesoverfederalism.

• Somehotissuesinvolvingfederalismtodayare• Gaymarriage• Medicalmarajuana• Obamacare• Immigrationenforcement

FederalandStatePowers• Ingeneral,thefederalgovernmenthaspowerovereconomicissues,themilitaryanddefense.

• Ingeneral,stategovernmentshavepoweroversocial,moral,andfamilyissues.

PositivesandNegativesofFederalism• Negativeview:Federalismblocksprogressandprotectspowerfullocalinterests.

• Positiveview:Federalismcontributestogovernmentalstrength,politicalflexibility,andfostersindividuallibertyandthedevelopmentofleaders.

• Federalist#10:smallpoliticalunitsallowallrelevantintereststobeheard.

RelationshipsBetweenStates• TheFullFaithandCreditClauserequiresstatestorecognizethepublicactsandlegaljudgmentsofotherstates.

• ThePrivilegesandImmunitiesClauserequiresstatestoofferout-of-statecitizensthesametreatmentasin-stateresidents.

• Extraditionisaprocesswhereastatemustreturnapersonwhenheorshehasbeenchargedwithacrimeinanotherstate.

FederalismOverTime• Dualfederalism:Bothnationalandstategovernmentsaresupremeintheirownspheres,whichshouldbekeptseparate.

• Cooperativefederalism:thestateandfederalspheresoverlapanddistinctionsbetweenthemareblurred.

CategoricalGrantsv.RevenueSharing• Categoricalgrantsareforspecificpurposesdefinedbyfederallaw;theyoftenrequirelocalmatchingfunds.• Projectgrantsarebasedoncompetitiveapplicationsandmustbeusedforaspecificpurpose(likebuildinganairport)• Formulagrantsarebasedonaformula(likethepercentagewhofallbelowthepovertylevel)

DevolutionofPower• Devolutionoccurswhenthefederalgovernmentgivesmoreauthorityanddiscretiontostategovernments.• Blockgrants(theWelfareReformActisanexample)weredevotedtogeneralpurposeswithfewrestrictions.• Revenuesharingrequiresnomatchingfundsandcanbespentonalmostanygovernmentalpurpose.

FederalAidandFederalControl• Fiscalfederalismistheuseoffederaltaxingandspendingwhichimpactsthestatesthroughgrants-in-aid.

• Conditionsofaid:tellstategovernmentswhattheymustdoiftheywishtoreceivegrantmoney.Raisingthedrinkingageto21isanexampleofthis.

• Mandates:federalrulesthatstatesorlocalitiesmustobey,generallyhavelittleornothingtodowithfederalaid

• Anunfundedmandateoccurswhenstatesmustcomplywithafederallawbutarenotprovidedwithfunds.(AmericansWithDisabilitiesAct).

FederalismandtheConstitution• TheTenthAmendmentstatesthatallpowernotdelegatedtothenationalgovernment,norprohibitedtothestates,isreservedtothestatesandthepeople

• But,ArticleI,Section8,allowsCongresstomakealllawsnecessaryandproperforcarryingoutitsenumeratedpowers(theElasticClause).

McCullochv.Maryland• CouldCongresscharteranationalbank?Yes,eventhoughthispowerisnotexplicitlyintheConstitution.

• Couldstatestaxthenationalbank?No,because“thepowertotaxisthepowertodestroy.”

IncreasingNationalPower• InGibbonsv.Ogden (1824),theCourtdefinedcommercebroadly,toincludeall“intercourse” betweenstates.

• InHeartofAtlantaMotelv.US,whichisnottechnicallyafederalismcase,theCourtupheldtheCivilRightsActof1964usingtheCommerceClause.Thisgreatlyexpandedfederalpower.

Whatisleftofstatepower?• Bythelastquarterofthetwentiethcentury,manyscholarsthoughtthattheTenthAmendmenthadlittlerelevance.

• Then,alongcametheLopez case…