Chapter 3
Federalism
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Federalism governments

Federalism = dividing power between two
separate governments

40 % of people live in federalist counties
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Why Federalism?
Protect minorities from unjust majorities
 Dividing power between national and local
governments
 Division of power creates competition
 Large group of leaders rather than one
 Increase participation in the political
process
 Allows states to try different policies that
may meet the needs best

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Recipe for Federalism

Constitution provides structure – strong
national government
 National
government needed the power to tax and
regulate interstate commerce
 Congress needs to carry out laws that are
“necessary and proper” to carry out national
government powers, also called the implied
powers clause.
 States cannot interfere with the national
government
 States cannot make war, create an army, or coin
money
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The 10th Amendment and the
States

Reserves powers to the states or people
 States
rights to marriage, divorce, maintain control
of property, criminal law, contract law, highways,
education al systems, and social welfare
 State has concurrent power = state and national
government are able to tax and spend, establish
court system, and make and enforce laws
 White separatists used states rights to deny equal
opportunity to African Americans
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The Federal System Evolves
 State
centered Federalism, 1787-1868 = states
were independent and did not share power.
States in control of slave issue
 Dual Federalism, 1868-1913 = National and
state government powers were separate
 Cooperative Federalism, 1913-1964 = National
economy created, federal government had
power over states, can be compared to goulash
or a marble cake, relationship established to
solve policy problems
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The Federal System Evolves
 Centralized
Federalism, 1964-1980 = National
government had vision and goals, national
government takes primary responsibility and
directs state and local laws, compared to a
pineapple upside-down cake
 Representational
Federalism, 1985-1995 =
States retain their constitutional role by electing
the president and members of congress
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Federalism and the Federal Courts

Judges of Federalism
 McCulloch
v. Maryland (1819) = State of
Maryland taxed the Baltimore branch bank,
which was established by congress, refused to
pay the taxes. Doctrine of national supremacy
established. National law is superior to any
other laws
 Brown v. Board of Education (1954) = power of
the states to segregate ended by the national
government
 State poll tax was found unconstitutional in 1966
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Federalism


Federal Grants
Purposes

Supply state and local governments with
money
 Establish minimum standards
 Equalize resources
 Minimize growth of federal agencies
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Federalism

Types of Federal Grants

Categorical formula grants = funds set aside
for specific purposes (school lunch, welfare)
 Block grants = broad grants for education,
social services, and healthcare. Can be sued
by the states with flexibility
 Revenue Sharing = terminated in the states
and local governments by 1987
 Project grants = a certain amount of money is
put toward a specific project, such as the
National Science Foundation
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Tomorrow’s Federalism
More complex
 States are more organized and have taken
on greater responsibilities
 Preemption exists
 Citizens are concerned with efficiency

 Dual
Federalism = National and state
government powers were separate
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