Federal v. Unitary Structure
 What is a unitary structure?
 How is it different from a federal
structure?
 What is a confederal structure?
NEGATIVE EFFECTS
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Didn’t federalism contribute to the
perpetuation of racial discrimination?
…allow environmental problems to worsen?
Doesn’t a federal form of government inhibit
quick responses to serious problem?
Have the American states become outmoded?
Why should Delaware or Alaska possess as
much power constitutionally as California?
DO NOW:
1.
2.
Take out reading on the merits and
demerits of federalism.
What is the difference between a unitary
and a federal system of government?
PUBLIC ATTITUDES TOWARDS
FEDERALISM (Public opinion poll)

MERITS/DEMERITS OF FEDERALISM
(reading excerpt)
1.
Which arguments in favor of
federalism are strongest?…weakest?
2.
Which arguments against federalism
are strongest?…weakest?
3.
Do the merits outweigh the demerits?

HAMILTONIAN V. JEFFERSONIAN VIEW
OF DEMOCRACY
 What is the difference?
 Which view prevailed early on in our
history?
What is nullification? What “settled”
that question?
What is dual federalism? Does it exist?
DO NOW:
1.
2.
3.
Take out your chapter outline and the
McCulloch v. Maryland summary.
HAMILTONIAN V. JEFFERSONIAN VIEW OF
DEMOCRACY : What is the difference?
What is meant by “dual federalism”?
10TH AMENDMENT AND THE ELASTIC
CLAUSE

How are the 10th Amendment and elastic
language of Article I, Section 8 at odds?

What two Constitutional questions did
the Supreme Court answer in
McCulloch v. Maryland?


How was each question answered?
How did the Supreme Court decision in
McCulloch v. Maryland influence the
status of the 10th Amendment?
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Why doesn’t the federal government
always intervene when states defy its
authority?
For example,
Nevada permits prostitution
Some states allow medicinal use of marijuana
Physician assisted suicide
Could the federal government
intervene?
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What are grants-in-aid and why have
they grown over the years?
What is the difference between
categorical grants and block grants or
general revenue sharing?
Explain why, despite repeated
attempts to reverse the trend,
categorical grants have continued to
grow more rapidly than block grants.


Distinguish between mandates and
conditions–in-aid with respect to
federal grant programs to states and
localities.
To what extent have federal grants to
the states succeeded in creating
uniform national policies comparable
to those of centralized governments.
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Why have grants-in-aid grown enormously
since the 1960s?
Why have conditions-in-aid grown in recent
decades?
Who is more likely to favor block grants over
categorical grants – a liberal or a
conservative? Explain.
Despite the devolution revolution, why have
categorical grants increased at a much faster
rate than block grants?
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
How did the Supreme court decision in
McCulloch v. Maryland influence the status of
the 10th Amendment?
What is the distinction between categorical
grants and block grants? (purpose, funding,
conditions-in-aid)
Why do states (governors/Mayors) say they
prefer block grants over categorical grants?
Why do conservatives prefer block grants?
Why do liberals prefer categorical grants?
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
Why have grants-in-aid grown dramatically over
the course of our nation’s history? (state
perspective and federal government perspective)
What is meant by “devolution”? Why did Ronald
Reagan support it? Are we in the midst of a
“devolution revolution”? Explain.
Distinguish between “mandates” and
“conditions-in-aid”.
Do interest groups produce grants-in-aid or do
grants–in-aid produce interest groups?
Doesn’t the system of grants-in-aid upset the
balance of power of federalism? (bribe into
compliance)
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Agree/Disagree: Federalism is troublesome in that the
diversity of state laws and procedures creates
inequities from a national perspective.
Agree/Disagree: Federalism is troublesome in that it
can promote unequal educational opportunities
(wealthier states can provide better services)
Agree/Disagree: Grants-in-aid have disrupted the
balance of power that the framers intended federalism
to provide.
Example of Devolution: Welfare Reform Act 1996
(AFDC to TANF)
Oregon’s Physician Assisted Suicide Law: Can states
make it legal for doctor’s to help end a terminally ill
patient’s life?
State medicinal marijuana laws?