debate around the extent to which the usa remains federal today

Question 1

the 10th ammendment ensures that the power of states is protected from federal overreach
this can be seen in 2017 when trumps executive order withholding federal grants from sanctuary cities was struck down by the courts

Answer 1

usa remains federal today

Question 2

there is significant variation in policy , culture and ideology between states and states can act as policy laboratories to improve federal gov policy

Answer 2

usa remains federal

Question 3

the very difficult ammendment process ensures that the constitution can’t be changed to infringe upon state power
this can be seen in the rules for the senate , where small states still have equal representation as larger states

Answer 3

usa remains federal

Question 4

states are able to take a diffrent direction to the federal government when they disagree with it
certain democrat controlled states have introduced sanctuary cities which interfere with the implementation of federal immigration laws
in response to the affordable care act , many republican controlled states decided not to accept new federal funding to expand medicaid , instead keeping their existing medicaid funding and provision

Answer 4

usa remains federal

Question 5

US v Lopez marked a shift away from the expansive interpretation of federal power and implied powers that the supreme court followed in most of the 20th century

Answer 5

usa remains federal

Question 6

the vast majority of money spent by states is raised through state and local taxes
further a significant amount of federal funding given to states is through block grants which give states significant autonomy in deciding how money can be spent
an example of a block grant is surface transportation program which states can use to improve and maintain highways , bridges , tunnels , sidewalks and bicycle paths

Answer 6

usa remains federal

Question 7

it can no longer be argued that due to the expansion of federal power in the 20th century is the US us no longer federal today
major federal programmes such as the new deal , great society , and Obamacare can ve seen as having encroached on policy areas historically controlled by the states , such as healthcare and employment . This is including through federal mandates , which impose national policies on all states
Obamacare and bushs education reforms are good examples of this

Answer 7

usa is no longer federal

Question 8

implied powers , particularly the commerce clause and elastic/neccessary and proper clause have justified the growth off federal power through the 20th century

Answer 8

usa is no longer federal

Question 9

constitutional amendments including the 16th amendment introducing federal income tax have expanded federal power

Answer 9

usa is no longer federal

Question 10

states are reliant on the federal government for around a quarter of their income , this allows the federal government to control state policy somewhat , parituclalry through categorical grants , which specified how money should be spent
in 1984 , congress passed the national minimum drinking age act , requiring states to raise their age for the purchase of alcohol to 21 by October 1986 or lose 10% of their federal highway funds. All 50 states complied , though the law has been seen as sidestepping the 10th ammendment .

Answer 10

usa is no longer federal