Federalism
Study Guide
Identify and Describe:
Federalism
Unitary governments
Intergovernmental relations
Supremacy clause
Tenth amendment
McCulloch v. Maryland
Enumerated powers
Other Terms:
Commerce Clause
Concurrent Powers
Name _________________________ Date ______ Per ____
Implied powers
Elastic clause
Gibbons v Ogden
Full faith and credit
Extradition
Privileges and immunities
Dual federalism
New Federalism
Mandates (and unfunded)
Compare and Contrast::
Federalism and unitary governments
Intergovernmental relations and fiscal federalism
Supremacy clause and Tenth amendment
Enumerated powers and implied powers
McCulloch v Maryland and Gibbons v. Ogden
Full faith and credit, extradition, and privileges and
immunities
Cooperative federalism
Fiscal federalism
Categorical grants
Project grants
Formula grants
Block grants
Reserve Powers
Dual federalism and cooperative federalism
Categorical grants and block grants
Project grants and formula grants
STUDENTS! To be of greatest benefit, use the questions to record both specific concrete details and general summarizations
of the material! Be clear and specific!
IN THIS CHAPTER YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO:
Objective 1. Define federalism and explain why it is important to American government and politics.
A. Define the three ways of organizing a nation that were discussed in the text.
1.
2.
3.
B. In what ways does federalism decentralize who makes our decisions and also how and what decisions are made?
Objective 2 Describe how the Constitution divides power between the national and state governments and understand why the
supremacy of the national government is the central principle of American federalism.
A. List the three items that are considered the supreme law of the land.
1.
2.
3.
B. What is the significance of the Tenth Amendment?
C. Explain the difference between enumerated powers and implied powers.
D. Edwards says, “regulating commerce is one of the national government’s most important sources of power.” Make a list of
what government has used the commerce power to do.
Objective 3. Explain the nature of the states’ obligations to each other.
A. Describe the three general obligations that each state has to every other state under the Constitution. (that means not just
what it is, but what it means!) – an example for each.
1.
2.
3.
Objective 4. Explain how federalism in the United States has shifted from dual federalism to cooperative federalism.
A. How is dual federalism analogous to a layer cake and cooperative federalism analogous to a marble cake?
B. Explain the three general standard operating procedures of cooperative federalism.
1.
2.
3.
C. Explain two examples of the shift from dual to cooperative federalism.
1.
2.
D. Describe the significance of Reagan to the balance of federal power.
Objective 5. Describe the nature of fiscal federalism and how states and cities compete for federal grants and aid.
A. What is the difference between categorical grants and block grants?
B. What is meant by “cross-over sanctions” and “cross-cutting requirements”? Give an example for each.
Cross-over Sanctions:
Cross-cutting Sanctions:
C. Describe the two types of categorical grants.
1.
2.
D. What is the difference between block grants and revenue sharing?
E. For what reasons might a state or locality not want to receive federal aid?
Objective 6. Explain the relationship between federalism and democracy, and how federalism contributes to and detracts
from democracy.
A. List four advantages of federalism for democracy.
1.
2.
3.
4.
B. List four disadvantages of federalism for democracy.
1.
2.
3.
4.
Objective 7. Understand how federalism has contributed to the scope of the national government.
A. How did industrialization increase the role of the national government?
B. Why don’t the states handle more issues?