Federalism

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3 types of governmental systems

•  Unitary system

•  Federal system

•  Confederal system

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Unitary System

Central Government

States

Citizens

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Federal System

Central Government

Citizens Citizens

State or regional government

State or regional government

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Confederal System

Central Government

Citizens Citizens

State or regional government

State or regional government

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Disadvantages of Federalism: •  States and local governments can block important national

policies such as civil rights

•  Allows the power of local interests to go unchecked

•  Allows for big variations in how people are treated

•  States and local governments may lack the necessary expertise and money to accomplish important goals

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Advantages of Federalism

•  Allows for big variations in terms of how people are treated

•  States can become “laboratories of democracy”

•  Federalism enhances political participation •  Therefore, it can increase “political efficacy”

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Federalism: The Great Debate

•  National Standards versus Local Discretion •  Examples?

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Federalism and the Founders

•  Nation-Centered (Federalist Perspective)

•  State-Centered (Anti-Federalist Perspective)

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McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)

•  The Issues

•  Significance?

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The Anti-Federalist Perspective

•  States’ Rights & John C. Calhoun

•  The Doctrine of Nullification

•  Implications?

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Evolution of Federalism

•  Dual Federalism (1865-1933)

•  Cooperative Federalism (1933-1960) •  Role of the Great Depression

•  FDR and the "New Deal“

•  Escalating perception of poor state performance Saylor URL: http://www.saylor.org/courses/polsc231

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Fiscal Federalism

•  Categorical Grants

•  Block Grants •  Example: Community Development Block

Grant

•  General Revenue Sharing

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Other Concepts

•  Morton Grodzins: Marble cake versus layer cake theory

•  Unfunded Mandates

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