chapter 3 federalism - edl structure • federalism: a political system where local government units...
TRANSCRIPT
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.