1. FEDERALISM
REVISION

2. BACKGROUND
• ‘Halfway house’ between the concept of a
centralised unitary state and the idea of a
confederation which would have been a weak
association of autonomous states
• Grant ‘It arose out of a desire to bolster national
unity whilst …accomodating regional diversity’
• Wheare said “method of dividing so that the
general and regional govts are each within a
sphere coordinate and independent”

3. FEDERALISM & CONSTITUTION
• Constitution does not mention words
federalism, but in constitutional terms the
federal and state govts are seen as being of
equal status within their own distinctive
realms of authority
• Supreme Court settles any disputes about the
division of powers between them and its
judgements are binding

4. DEVELOPMENT
• Several factors have been adopted which have
served to increase the influence of Washington
over the states
• Constitutional amendments – 14th amendment
provided equal protection of the law to all
citizens
• Supreme Court decisions –allowed an expansion
of national intervention – the congressional
power to tax for the common defence of the USA
• Financial – education, health, welfare (grants in
aid)

5. Differing conceptions
• Relationship has fluctuated in different
periods of US history
• Dual, cooperative, creative, coercive, new,
progressive
• Categorical grants – grants from federal govt
to be used for specific purposes
• Block grants – discretionary grants, states can
choose how the money is spent

6. Presidents and federalism
• Roosevelt- Great Depression & New Deal –deploy
resources of central government/interventionist
measures
• JFK – promised to take the country forward with
federal money. Policy taken up by Johnson in
Great Society programme War on Poverty –
categorical grants
• Nixon –new federalism –block grants
• Regan –new/dual federalism-reduction in grants
in aid and federal regulations

7. • Clinton - era of big govt is over –wanted to cut
budget deficit and spoke of increased
opportunities for local experimentation
• George W Bush-
• Obama –progressive federalism? October 2009 –
reversed the Bush policy of prosecuting medical
marijuana cases in states which had legalised the
practice
• Critics argue that Obama’s record on the 10th
amendment is mixed – he will let the states have
their own way when their policies please him

8. Obama – federalist?
• Granted California a waiver to allow it to raise
auto emissions standards, but called in the feds
when the state tried to cut payments to
unionised health care workers
• Health care reform – demise of federalism?
Currently states regulate the health insurance
available in their states. Under Obama’s plan the
federal govt would take over the role of
regulator, leaving governors to implement new
federal framework

9. Federalism –a good thing?

10. Conclusion