Exam 1 Flashcards
when was elite dominance and inefficient and ineffective service?
1950-60
when did the state role increase, proactive
post 1980s: resurgence
How did states and localities increased their capacity?
changes in legislative apportionment, increased lobbying presence, modernized constitutions
challenges facing state and local governments
- fiscal stress
a. recession, downsizing, tax increases - increased interjurisdictional conflict
b. natural resources and economic development - political corruption
c. more transparency
what moral policies does culture conflict?
same-sex marriages, abortions, religion, politics
states are resilient:
captures ability of state governments to recover from adversity
division of government power and responsibility
unitary, confederate, federal
what are the advantages of federalism?
- manages social and political conflict
- promotes admin efficiency
- encourages innovation
- maximizes political participation in government
What are disadvantages of federalism?
- coordination problem across governments
- ineffective national government programs
- local biases harmful to national interests
devices to control factions placed in the u.s. constitution
- representative government with citizen elections
- division of government into 3 branches
- federal system with majority controlled by the sovereign states
articles of confederation
unicameral congress
limited power
lack of national authority
constitutional convention
va plan
nj plan
great compromise
state-centered federalism
- preferred by Jefferson and the republicans
- saw the constitution as a compact that maintained the sovereignty of states
- compact theory
- ultimately resulted in succession by eleven states
growth of national power through congress
- taxing and spending power
- federal pre-emption
- smothering, then resuscitating the tenth amendment
- federalism and the courts today
different models of federalism
dual federalism
cooperative federalism
contemporary variations on cooperative federalism
cooperation among the states
regional interstate commissions uniform laws information sharing interstate compacts arbitration
why are federal funds important?
aid to states and localities is small share of federal budget, but is 38% of state and local governments’ revenue
Most nongrant payments are from social security, medicaid, wages to federal employees
how did the executive power grow?
accumulated through constitutional amendments
earliest constitutions
non-democratic
legislative supremacy
growth of executive power
weaknesses of constitutions
- Excessive length
a. Contradictory
b. Verbose
c. Excessive amendments - Problems of substance
a. The long ballot
b. Too many executive boards and commissions
c. Many local governments with restricted authority
d. Unequal treatment of racial minorities and immigrants
unfunded mandates are a sign of what?
increased national-state conflict
what is inherent to the federal system?
competition
who has the capacity to play central roles in the us?
states and localities
who preferred state-centered federalism?
Jefferson and the republicans
