Chapter 4: Federalism
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
1. Define the key terms at the end of the chapter
2. Understand what Madison outlined in Federalist 10 regarding aggregate interests
related to national, state and local governments.
3. Explain why the founders adopted a federal system.
4. Contrast two competing views of federalism (dual and cooperative), identifying
their essential parts and the metaphors used to explain them.
5. Identify the forces prompting relationship changes between the federal and state
governments.
6. Explain the theory of coercive federalism, its origins and its implications
7. Distinguish among categorical grants, block grants, formula grants and project
grants
8. Describe the sanctions and incentives used by the national government to extend
its power over the states
9. Trace the shifting balance of power between the national and state governments
in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries
10. Identify the factors allowing states to assume a more active federal role
11. Explain the relationship of ideologies to federalism
12. Discuss the difficulties associated with reshaping the federal system
13. List the main types of local government units and argue whether the local level is
the best for involvement of people in the government
14. Outline the advantages and disadvantages of the federal system
15. Explain the relevance of federalism for governments around the world
CHAPTER OUTLINE: Use this to take your own notes
I.
Theories and Metaphors
A. Federalism
B. Dual Federalism
C. Cooperative Federalism
II.
Federalisms’ Dynamics
A. National Crises and Demands
B. The “Necessary and Proper” Clause
C. Judicial Interpretation
D. Grants-in-aid
E. Professionalization of State Governments
III.
Idelology, Policymaking and American Federalism
A. Policy entrepreneurs
B. Ideology, Policymaking and Federalism in Theory
C. Ideology, Policymaking, and Federalism in Practice
D. Constraining Unfunded Mandates
IV.
Federalism and Electoral Politics
A. National Capital-State Capital Links
B. Congressional Redistricting
V.
Federalism and the American Intergovernmental System
A. Thousands of Governments
B. Crosscutting Responsibilities
VI.
Federalism and the International System
A. Iraq
VII.
Federalism and Pluralism
KEY TERMS
Sovereignty, federalism, dual federalism, states’ rights, implied powers, cooperative
federalism, elastic clause, commerce clause, grant-in-aid, categorical grants,
formula grants, project grants, block grants, policy entrepreneurs, preemption,
mandate, restraint, coercive federalism, redistricting, municipal governments, county
governments, school district, special districts, home rule