FederalismFederalism

Defining FederalismDefining Federalism

What is Federalism?– Definition: A way of organizing a nation so that

two or more levels of government have formal authority over the land and people.

Intergovernmental Relations -– Definition: The workings of the federal system-

the entire set of interactions among national, state and local governments.

Defining FederalismDefining Federalism

Defining FederalismDefining Federalism

Why is Federalism so important?

Think about the question, and once you come up with an answer, tell the person to your left.

The Constitutional Basis of The Constitutional Basis of FederalismFederalism

The Division of PowerEstablishing National SupremacyState’s Obligations to Each Other

Understanding FederalismUnderstanding Federalism

Advantages for Democracy– Increasing access to

government– Local problems can be

solved locally– Hard for political

parties / interest groups to dominate ALL politics

Disadvantages for Democracy– States have different

levels of service– Local interest can

counteract national interests

– Too many levels of government - too much money

Vocab to KnowVocab to Know

Dual Federalism (Layer Cake Federalism)-

Where states and the national government remain supreme within their own roles.

National: Military, Foreign Policy, Post Office State: schools, roads, law enforcement

Cooperative Federalism (Marble Cake Federalism)-

Where the power is shared both by the national government and the state.

Education: State’s responsibility/ Federal Mandates

Medicade: State Managed/ Federally Funded

Reserved Powers- Powers reserved to the states or the federal government ONLY. No sharing here

Military, Declaring War, Ambassadors

Concurrent Powers- Powers shared between the states and the Federal Gov.

Tax, build roads, establish court systems

Intergovernmental Relations Intergovernmental Relations TodayToday

Fiscal Federalism:– The Grant System: Distributing the Federal Pie– Categorical: $ can only be used for a specific

purpose.– Block: states and communities decide how to

spend the $, broad range – Mandates: Congress may/may not give $, but

states are REQUIRED to do what is asked

Intergovernmental Relations Intergovernmental Relations TodayToday

Federal Grants to State and Local Governments (Figure 3.1)

Figure 3.2

Intergovernmental Relations Intergovernmental Relations TodayToday

Fiscal Federalism

Federalism and Gun ControlFederalism and Gun Control

Right to bear arms is guaranteed by the Second Amendment

Some Stats:– ATF reports 4 million firearms manufactured in US

in 1999– ATF reports that 1,271,568 weapons were

registered in 2000.– CDC reports 79 US residents die from gun

violence every day in 2003.

Who Regulates Guns?Who Regulates Guns?

Feds: States:

•Interstate Transport•Brady Bill•Assault Weapons Ban

•Child Access Prevention•Concealed weapons•Private Sales to Minors•Secondary Sales•Waiting Periods•Licensing (if there is any)

Evolution of Gun LawsEvolution of Gun LawsSource: Brady Campaign—2004 Report CardSource: Brady Campaign—2004 Report Card

DebateDebate

Should gun control be entirely a federally regulated issue? Or should gun control remain largely regulated by individual states?

Who (federal or states) is best suited to solve the problem? Who is best suited to pay for it?

Understanding FederalismUnderstanding Federalism State Welfare Benefits (Figure 3.3)

Understanding FederalismUnderstanding Federalism Spending on Public Education (Figure 3.4)

Understanding FederalismUnderstanding Federalism

Understanding FederalismUnderstanding Federalism The Public Sector and the Federal System (Figure 3.5)