Federalism
Defining 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 Federalism
Defining 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
Federalism

The Division of Power
 Establishing National Supremacy
 State’s Obligations to Each Other
Understanding Federalism

Advantages for
Democracy

Disadvantages for
Democracy
– Increasing access to
– States have different
government
– Local problems can be
solved locally
– Hard for political
parties / interest groups
to dominate ALL
politics
levels of service
– Local interest can
counteract national
interests
– Too many levels of
government - too much
money
Vocab 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
Today

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
Today

Federal Grants to State and Local Governments (Figure 3.1)
Intergovernmental Relations
Today

Fiscal Federalism
Figure 3.2
Federalism 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?
Feds:
States:
•Interstate Transport
•Child Access
•Brady Bill
Prevention
•Assault Weapons Ban
•Concealed weapons
•Private Sales to
Minors
•Secondary Sales
•Waiting Periods
•Licensing (if there is
any)
Evolution of Gun Laws
Source: Brady Campaign—2004 Report Card
Debate
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 Federalism

State Welfare Benefits (Figure 3.3)
Understanding Federalism

Spending on Public Education (Figure 3.4)
Understanding Federalism
Understanding Federalism

The Public Sector and the Federal System (Figure 3.5)