Chapter 3 Guide: Federalism
As you read through the chapter and take notes, you should keep the items below
in mind. Remember the importance of being precise in your understanding. For
example, know what federalism is, but also know what it is not! It is likely that you
will read questions on the test that will have you select false examples (among true
ones) to a particular concept.
Key Questions
 What is federalism?
 Why was federalism created by the founding fathers as a necessary part of
republicanism?
 How does federalism help to answer the problem of faction?
 How does federalism fit into the principle of checks and balances?
 How is federalism applied to governments in the Constitution?
 What are the strengths of federalism?
 What are the weaknesses of federalism?
 How is federalism alive and at work today?
 How does federalism affect government policy?
 What is the relationship between state and national governments? What are
the rights of each and the limits of each?
 How did the Civil War as well as the Civil Rights Movement serve to shape
federalism?
Essential Understandings
 Federalism is the division of power between the nation and the states
 The division of power between state and national government prevents the
accumulation of power into the hands a strong faction
 Federalism is established in and by…
- Supremacy Clause
- Tenth Amendment
- Article I enumerated powers
- Article IV obligations of states
- The doctrine of implied powers (necessary and proper clause)
- The privileges and immunities clause
- Civil War
- Civil Rgts. Mvt. & Brown v. Board of Ed. (1954)
 Federalism has been interpreted by the Supreme Court in the following cases:
- McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)
- Gibbons v. Ogden (1824)
- Brown v. Board of Education (1954)
- United States v. Darby (1941)
- National League of Cities v. Usery (1976)
- Garcia v. San Antonio Metro (1985)
- Saenz v. Roe (1999)
- Printz v. United States (1997)
Vocabulary:
1. Federalism
2. Unitary Governments
3. Confederation
4. Intergovernmental relations
5. Division of Power
6. Supremacy Clause
7. Necessary & Proper Clause (aka: elastic clause)
8. Tenth Amendment
9. National Supremacy
10. McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)
11. Gibbons v. Ogden (1824)
12. Implied Powers
13. Enumerated Powers
14. Civil War
15. Civil Rights Movement
16. Brown v. Board of Education (1954)
17. Full Faith and Credit
18. Extradition
19. Privileges and Immunities of Citizens
20. Dual Federalism
21. Cooperative Federalism
22. Fiscal Federalism
23. Grants-in-aid
24. Categorical Grants
25. Cross-over Sanctions & Cross-Cutting requirements
26. Project Grants
27. Formula Grants
28. Block Grants
29. Underfunded Mandate
30. Unfunded Mandate