1.3 The main characteristics of US federalism.

Question 1

How did the westwards expansion cause the federal gov’t to grow?

Answer 1

the 13 colonies grew init

Question 2

How did the growth of population cause the federal gov’t to grow?

Answer 2

The population grew from 4 mil in 1790 to 322mil in 2016

Question 3

How did the industrialisation cause the federal gov’t to grow?

Answer 3

The need for gov’t regulation, the federal executive department for comerce and labour was formed in 1903

Question 4

How did ithe great depression cause the federal gov’t to grow?

Answer 4

Great depression - 1929
State gov’t did not possess the necessary resources to reverse huge levels of employment
Franklin Roosevelts new deal did its ting and got usa back to work

Question 5

How did foreign policy cause the federal gov’t to grow?

Answer 5

The usa stepped out as a super power w exclusive juristdiction over foreign policy

Question 6

How did SC decisions cause the federal gov’t to grow?

Answer 6

• seen between 1937 and the 70s, through the implied powers of the constitution, through the :
  ‘necessary and proper clause’
  ‘ common defense and general welfare clause’
  ‘ commerce clause’

Question 7

What is the Commerce clause

Answer 7

The clause in Article I, Section 8 of the
Constitution empowering Congress to regulate commerce with
foreign nations and among the states

Question 8

How has congress limited federal gov’t

Answer 8

Under the Rehnquist and Robert court, the SC takes a more restrivtive view of these clauses

Question 9

What are examples of SC limiting Federal gov’t

Answer 9

2012 decision of National Federation of
Independent Business v Sebelius, in which the Court declared that
President Obama’s Healthcare Reform Act could not be justified
under the commerce clause, but only under Congress’s power to levy
taxes.

Question 10

How do Constitutional amendments cause Federal gov’t to grow?

Answer 10

14th amendment was v significant, although not immediately

16th Amendment as well

Question 11

What made the 14th Amendment increase the size of the federal gov’t?

Answer 11

Constitutions put prohibitions on the state gov’t

included ‘due process’ and ‘equal protection’ provisions

Question 12

What cases were used by 14th Amendment to increase size of federal gov’t

Answer 12

used by SC to invalidate state laws requiring public school segregation and racial discrimination, abortion laws and Floridas attempt to recount in 2000 elections between Bush and Al Gore

Question 13

What made the 16th Amendment increase the size of the federal gov’t?

Answer 13

16th Amendment (1913)

• Allowed federal gov’t to impose income tax
• allowed federal gov’t to launch grand programs i.e Roosevelts New Deal

Question 14

New federalism

Answer 14

An approach to federalism characterised by a return of certain powers and responsibilities from the federal government to the states.
- was used by neo-cons to give more power back to the states

Question 15

Unfunded mandate

Answer 15

A federal law requiring states to perform

functions for which the federal government does not supply funding.

Question 16

When did New federalism become significant

Answer 16

Nixon years - era saw rise of block grants

Became rpominant under 4 US presidents, Nixon, Ford, Regan and H.W Bush

Question 17

Block Grants

Answer 17

money given to states by the federal government to be used at their discretion within broad policy areas.

Question 18

How did new federalism end up redusing state power?

Answer 18

As the federal deficit increased in the
1980s, federal programmes were cut. - causing unfunded mandate - federal gov’t would require states to perform function without providing money to fund it

Question 19

What was federalism looking like in the mid 90’s?

Answer 19

‘Zigzag federalism’ - Republican majority in both houses of Congress - meant that there was greater flexiblity and autonomy to experiment with new policy approaches, other areas washington exercised stricter control