Federalism Current Issues Pathfinder
Overview: Oil drilling, same-sex marriage, abortion, gun
control, No Child Left Behind, medicinal marijuana,
smoking laws, cell/texting laws, assisted suicide, health
care, and immigration are some current issues that cause
tension between federal and state governments.
Scope: This pathfinder will help you begin your research. Recommended databases and
search strategies (terms in italics) are provided for each topic. In some cases, we’ve
included specific articles (titles in “quotes”) to help you find your bearings. Pull key
words and search terms from the articles to continue your research using any of the
databases on Stoga.net CHS Research Databases Current Issues.
The Issues:
Oil Drilling v. Protecting the Environment
• CQ Researcher: “Offshore Drilling: Is tougher federal oversight needed?” June
25, 2010
• CQ Supreme Court: Browse Environmental Protection under ‘Law and Society
Topics’
• Issues and Controversies: “ Offshore Drilling” Dec. 5, 2008
• SIRS: “Appeals Court Rejects Drilling Moratorium” (Louisiana); “Two Decades
of Hard Work, Plowed Under” (Utah)
• Opposing Viewpoints: “Alaskans Support Drilling in the ANWR”; “US Gov’t
Should Create a Comprehensive Energy Policy”
• eLibrary: search using the term Oil Drilling
Same-Sex Marriage
• CQ Researcher: “Gay Marriage Showdowns” 2008
• CQ Supreme Court: search using the term Marriage; “Courts and the Law:
Liberty, Equality, Matrimony” 2008
• ABC-Clio ISSUES: “Gay and Lesbian Rights Outlook”
• Issues and Controversies: “Same-Sex Marriage” March 26, 2009
• New York Times: “In Same-Sex Ruling, An Eye on the Supreme Court”
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/06/us/06assess.html?_r=2
Abortion
• CQ Researcher: “Abortion Debates” Sept. 10, 2010
• CQ Supreme Court: Browse Abortion under ‘Law and Society Topics’
• Issues and Controversies: “Update: Abortion” April 12, 2010
Gun Control
• CQ Researcher: “Gun Rights Debate” updated July 22, 2010
• CQ Supreme Court: Browse Guns under ‘Law and Society Topics’
• Opposing Viewpoints: Click on ‘Issues’ and find Gun Control
No Child Left Behind
• CQ Researcher: “Revising No Child Left Behind” April 16, 2010
• ABC-Clio ISSUES: search using the term No Child Left Behind; “Intervening or
Intruding? The Federal Gov’t and Education Reform”
• Jurist, University of Pittsburgh: “Supreme Court Declines to Hear No Child
Left Behind Challenge” http://jurist.org/paperchase/2010/06/supreme-courtdeclines-to-hear-no-child-left-behind-challenge.php
• Bloomberg Businessweek: “No Child Left Behind Challenge Rejected by
Supreme Court” http://www.businessweek.com/news/2010-06-07/no-child-leftbehind-challenge-rejected-by-u-s-supreme-court.html
Medicinal Marijuana
• CQ Researcher: “Legalizing Marijuana” updated July 21, 2010
• CQ Supreme Court: Browse Drugs under ‘Law and Society Topics’
• Issues and Controversies: “Update: Medical Marijuana” July 15, 2009
• Opposing Viewpoints: Search Medical Marijuana
• San Diego 6 News: “US Supreme Court Rejects Sand Diego County’s Medical
Marijuana Challenge” http://www.sandiego6.com/news/local/story/SupremeCourt-rejects-San-Diego-Medical-Marijuana/oNP5sZAAfUyCf6INy8C2yg.cspx
Smoking Laws
• CQ Researcher: “Tobacco Industry” Dec. 10, 2004
• CQ Supreme Court: Search using the term Smoking
Cell/Texting Laws
• Issues and Controversies: Search using the term Texting While Driving
• Opposing Viewpoints: Click on ‘Issues’ and find Texting While Driving
Physician Assisted Suicide
• CQ Researcher: “Right to Die” May 13, 2005
• CQ Supreme Court: Browse Right to Die under ‘Law and Society Topics’
• Issues and Controversies: Search using the term Euthanasia
Health Care
• CQ Researcher: “States and Federalism” Oct. 15, 2010. Use the ‘Short
Features’ link on the left to find the article “Will Staggering New Medicare Costs
Hit the States?”
• The New York Times: “Proposals Clash on States’ Role in Health Plans”
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/14/health/policy/14insure.html?_r=1
Immigration
• CQ Researcher: “States and Federalism” Oct. 15, 2010.
Use the ‘Short Features’ link on the left to find the article
“Arizona Law Blocked by Federal Judge”
• CQ Supreme Court: Browse Immigration under ‘Law and Society Topics’