Devolution/Federalism

Question 1

what is federalism?

Answer 1

where power is divided between the federal government and the state governments

Question 2

how is federalism effective in the states themselves?

Answer 2

each state has a functioning government with 3 branches
states have the power to ratify amendments
protections, rights and taxes different in many states

Question 3

how is federalism not effective?

Answer 3

the powers given to the federal government vs states is vague
most states don’t have year round government
congress can issue mandates that the state governments have to follow

Question 4

how many states were there originally?

Answer 4

13 original states

Question 5

what amendment is to do with federalism? what is it?

Answer 5

10th amendment, the powers not delegated to the US by the constitution, nor to the states are reserved to the states of the people.

Question 6

what is dual federalism?

Answer 6

a period between the founding fathers of the USA as a republic until the 1920s-30s
states had strong rights and so the president and federal government was less powerful

Question 7

what was cooperative federalism?

Answer 7

1930s,60s when the federal government’s powers over the states increased
new executive departments created over specific - defence and transportation

Question 8

what is new federalism?

Answer 8

1970s,90s movement of power back to the states from the central government
republican presidents have been responsible for this

Question 9

what powers are exclusive to the federal government?

Answer 9

power to print money and declare war
choose how much power it has over the states
taxes

Question 10

how has federalism been weakened since the 1930s?

Answer 10

world has become more global and complex, people’s expectations of what governments should deliver to their citizens has grown. military, economic and medical crises, the federal government is doing more, especially spending

Question 11

what powers do the states have?

Answer 11

reserved rights to issue licenses for marriages,
death penalty, police, taxes

Question 12

why are governors and state limited in the action in a crisis, but still the forefront of the response?

Answer 12

states and governor at the forefront, Hurricane Katrina and Sandy, and covid
but states are limited as they require a national movement in form of financial help and the involvement of federal agencies.

Question 13

why was the a lack of centralised coordination in covid?

Answer 13

president and governors blaming each other for shortage of vital equipment, also revealed the differing approaches between states, some states were quick to lockdown, while some were slower or some did not issue a full lockdown

Question 14

what are the problems with the suitability of the US constitution?

Answer 14

rigidity, uneven approach to protecting rights and liberties and criticised for enhancing the role of unelected judges
or are the flaws with the politics itself, deep polarisation and hyperpartisanship.

Question 15

what clauses in the constitution are problematic?

Answer 15

smaller states are overrepresented in the electoral college
declare war shared between the executive and legislature, but not declared since 1944
advice and consent powers can prevent unsuitable or inexperienced candidates from being appointed.
but controversial appointment such as Clarence Thomas and Brett Kavanaugh

Question 16

how does the US constitution protect rights?

Answer 16

key rights are explicitly protected in the BoR, they are entrenched and inalienable, difficult to overturn
SC judgement have often discovered new rights in the elastic clauses
constitution does not prevent other rights from being protected such as Equal Pay act 1963
many rights have been updated by judicial review

Question 17

how does the US constitution not protect rights?

Answer 17

rights and groups are not explicitly protected by the constitution, free and fair elections, right of children, education, health care
SC interpretations are in inevitably subjective, altering over time, this could create contradictions

Question 18

what is devolution?

Answer 18

the division of power among regions of the UK whilst legal power remains in parliament, Westminster

Question 19

what is EVEL

Answer 19

address the issue of MPs representing Scotland were able to vote for issues that only affected England and Wales

Question 20

what other roles have been formed from devolution?

positions formed such as the London … in 1998

Answer 20

city mayors, councils, boroughs

Question 21

what was the referendum that started devolution/when? (for all)

Answer 21

Scotland Act 1998 - Scottish devolution referendum
Wales Act 1998
Good Friday Agreement 1998

Question 22

what did Scotland do when given powers in 1998?

Answer 22

devolved primary powers, Established a Scottish parliament
powers over education, policing, criminal and civil law, public transport, vary income tax 5p to the pound

Question 23

what did the Scotland Act of 2016 do?

Answer 23

complete control over income tax, VAT, regulation of energy industry, welfare services, abortion, speed limits, air passenger duty.

Question 24

what was the Wales Act of 1998?

Answer 24

secondary powers, established a national welsh assembly and a separate executive
no financial powers
power to run public services, health, education, authority services

Question 25

what was the Wales Act of 2006?

Answer 25

asked if the people wanted more devolved power

Question 26

what was the Wales Act of 2014?

Answer 26

primary devolved powers, powers over stamp duty, taxes

Question 27

what was the 2020 Welsh Act

Answer 27

allowed for the name of the Welsh Assembly to be changed to Cymru Plaid

Question 28

what was the Good Friday Agreement 1998?

Answer 28

restored devolved powers to Northern Ireland, establishing an assembly using PR
major parties in NI guaranteed ministerial positions because the executive in NI was based on power sharing
powers - healthcare, education

Question 29

what happened to the NI Assembly in 2002-07 and 2017-20? why? what did Westminster do?

Answer 29

the reason why NI has less devolved powers is because the assembly was originally dissolved due to tensions in 2002.
then in 2017 it was suspended and Westminster took control, able to legalise abortion

Question 30

what is the debate to extend devolution to England?

Answer 30

further devolution - improve accountability, communities closer together, prevent differences in standard of living, may increase political participation
Against devolution - increase division in English society, difference cultures, too many elections causing voter apathy, not a demand for devolution

Question 31

what are the signs that devolution has worked?

Answer 31

allowed regional political differences to be recognised.
strengthened the union between the region by creating a best of both worlds.
popular with voters
variety of electoral systems
innovation in policy making

Question 32

what are the signs that devolution has not worked?

Answer 32

led to inequalities across the UK.
encouraged demands for greater separation and independence - scotland
SNP called for second independence referendum
policies implemented such as 5p charge, no smoking in public places would have happened anyhow

Question 33

what are the arguments for an English parliament?

Answer 33

When end the asymmetry in the UK.
Permanent answer to the West Lothian Question.
Reduce the centralisation of power in Westminster
parliament not in London, reduce the dominance of London over English politics.
devolution has worked well for other regions.
growing support for devolution in the UK

Question 34

what is the West Lothian Question?

Answer 34

following devolution, MPs from devolved regions still have the right to vote on matters that relate only to England, MPs from English constituencies cannot vote on issues devolved to the region.

Question 35

what are the arguments against devolution in England?

Answer 35

English parliament would dominate, economically and population.
Generate the bulk of the national GPD.
England lacks the cohesive and strong cultural identity found in counties.
Would be arguments of the location.
extra costs involved in the creation of another government.
Could potentially weaken not strengthen the Union.
Lack of public enthusiasm.