Federalism Flashcards
What was the position of states when the constitution of states when the constitution was written?
Self-governing and relatively happy that way.
What two things did LBj do?
2x civil rights acts and launched the Great Society
What is the compromise between need a stronger union but states wanting to retain a lot of power known as?
Federalism
Define Federalism
A theory of government where political power is divided between a national government and state governments each having their own area of jurisdiction.
How is federalism suitable for the USA?
The country is large and diverse and so a degree decentralisation is required yet a national unity is vital to keep it together.
Why was federalism especially apt at the time?
High levels of British hostility to US independence
Why was sticking together a matter of safety?
The declaration of independence was a treasonable act from the British, so the states sticking together helped to ensure their safety
What is the US motto that relates to federalism?
E pluribus unum - Out of many, one
What are powers that both state and federal government carry out known as?
Concurrent powers
Give an example of an implied federal power
Congress’s power ‘to make all necessary and proper for carrying out the foregoing powers’
What does the 10th amendment make clear?
“remaining powers” are reserved for the states themselves
What does the codified nature of the constitution, with its difficult amendment process mean for getting states to sign it?
Staes would be confident that federal government wouldn’t be able to take their powers from them soon after being formed.
What is anything not specifically mentioned in the constitution?
The preserve of the states
Under whose jurisdiction does national defence fall under?
Federal
Under whose jurisdiction does taxation fall under?
Both federal and state
Under whose jurisdiction does Criminal and Civil law fall under?
Both but mostly state
Under whose jurisdiction does Currency regulation fall under?
federal
Under whose jurisdiction does Internal security fall under?
federal
Under whose jurisdiction does transport fall under?
Both state and federal
Under whose jurisdiction does control over local and city governments fall under?
only state
Under whose jurisdiction does regulation of the media and commerce fall under?
both state and federal
Under whose jurisdiction does regulating international and inter state trade fall under?
federal
Under whose jurisdiction does foreign relations and negotiations fall under?
federal
When was the dual phase?
1787-1929
When was the co-operative phase?
1929-64
When was the creative phase?
1964-69
When was the New Phase?
1969-2016
What was the US situation under the dual phase?
Goes from just 13 states to emerging superpower post ww1. Consumer and economic boom across 1920s.
During the Dual phase who has most of the power?
States
During the co-operative phase who has most of the power?
Federal government takes power as states do not have the funds nor capability to deal with the Great Depression
During the creative phase who has most of the power?
Federal government grows further
Under the co-opertaive phase what was the state of the USA?
Economic and social depression
Under the creative phase what was the state of the USA?
America was still suffering from depression with very high poverty levels, although growth was starting again
Under the creative phase who was the president?
LBJ
Under the co-operative phase who was the president?
FDR
Despite being Republican, what did Bush oversee?
The biggest increase in federal spending since LBJ’s Great Society
What four reasons meant that Bush oversaw huge increase in federal overspending?
1) No child left behind
2) Medicare
3) 9/11
4) 2007 crash
What was No child left behind?
Huge program of testing for schools
What was Medicare expanded to include?
Free prescriptions for the elderly
Why did 9/11 lead to an increase in federal spending?
Lead to the creation of the department of homeland security and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan
Why did the Crash in 2007 lead to an increase in Federal spending?
Huge economic stimulus package
What has Obama overseen a rise in?
Spending, although at a slower rate than Bush and with more money going through states
What did Clinton oversee?
Budget surplus
Under Obama how much money was given to states as part of the economic stimulus?
$246 billion
What put a lot of power over health spending back into the hands of Washington?
Obamacare
What phase did LBJ preside over?
Creative federalism
What two things did LBj do?
2x civil rights acts and launched the Great Society
What was LBJ’s spending the largest since?
Largest since the new deal
What are the two main legal consequences of Federalism?
Big variety between state laws
Two layers of courts: state and federal
Give 4 examples of the varieties in state laws
- Legal ages for marriage, drinking and schooling
- Gay marriage
- Death penalty
- Euthanasia
How do elections relate to federalism?
All elections are state run and operate under state law
What is the Presidential election the culmination?
The culmination of 50 state elections
Give two examples of differences in voting methods between states?
Online in Arizona and Postal in Montana
What is a national party made up of?
50 parties working together
What is a consequence of federalism in terms of the political parties?
Wide regional variation between the same party
What is the consequence of the federalist nature of political parties on congress?
Bloc voting or party loyalty is a rather alien concept to US representatives
Give two economic consequences of Federalism
1- Redistribution of national income must be done through federal grants
2- Complex tax systems and high discrepancies between states
What is regionalism?
The USA is not Homogeneous in the way that nations such as France are
Give some examples of differences across America?
Accent, religion, culture, race and ideology
Give some examples of distinct areas of the USA
- Bible belt
- Mid west
- East Coast
- West coast
- New England
- Deep south
What are the 5 most significant factors that have changed federalism?
1) Westward expansion
2) Population growth
3) industrialisation
4) Improvements in communication
5) Foreign policy and world status
Complete the sentence: whilst through much of history since 1787 more power has been given to central government….
…decentralisation and states’ rights are once again the political buzzwords
Who are the two key figures of dual federalism?
Chief justice john marshall and the framers
How can dual federalism be descried with a baking analogy?
Layer cake federalism
How can co-operatvie be described with a baking analogy?
Marble cake federalism
What supreme court case during the dual federalism gave implied powers to congress?
McCulloch vs Maryland 1819
Other than McCulloch vs Maryland 1819, what tow other SC court cases have given central government more power?
Cohens vs Virginia 1821 and Gibbons vs Ogdon
What are two agencies of the NewDeal?
CCC and the WPA
Until when does the NewDeal coalition last until?
1960s
Who was the first person to bring up ending big government?
Nixon
What kind of revolution did Reagan promise?
A devolution revolution
What kind of Conservatism has Bush been labelled with?
Big Government Conservatism
How can no child left behind be described?
An extreme version of preemption
Name an innovative scheme under Clinton
Wisconsin school vouchers
How was Bush’s response to hurricane Katrina labelled?
Feeble
How much was Bush’s economic stimulus package?
$700 billion
What demonstrates how liberal Bush’s economic stimulus package of $700 billion was?
Only passed with democratic co-operation
What did the White House order in 2008 that demonstrates the large influence of federal government?
Ordered secretary of Treasury Henry Paulson to take control of two privately run but government sponsored mortgage companies
How did the March 2010 passage of Obamacare change the balance of federalism?
Gave a lot of power over healthcare spending back to Washington
What ratio demonstrates that Obama had gave a lot of power back to the states?
Ratio of state and local employees to federal government employees at its highest since before the New Deal
Under Obama, 246 billion dollars was given to the states as part of the economic stimulus package. How much more was this than before?
10 times more
How much of state expenditure was from federal money in 2008 and 2009
2008- 25 %
2009- 30 %
What four reasons was there for states having increased spending funded by federal government under Obama?
1) Re-athoritisation of the state children health insurance plan (SCHIP) in 2009
2) expansion of Medicaid as a part of Obamacare
3) Higher Education Expenditure such as the Pell Grant scheme
4) $4.35 billion invested in “Race to the Top” scheme boost education in states
because each state presidential election is run differently, how can there be big variations?
1) how to get on the ballot
2) primaries and caucuses
3) Voting methods
How is wealth redistributed between states?
Federal grants
High levels of regional diversity within a party means that what is not such a thing in America in the way that it is in the UK?
Bloc voting and party loyalty
Regional diversity means that presidents may seek what kind of balance?
A geographically balanced ticket or Cabinet
What are the 5 pros of federalism?
1) Permits diversity
2) Creates more access points to government
3) Better protects individual rights
4) States can become policy laboratories
5) Suits a big country
How does federalism allow diversity?
Each state can retain their own identity and culture, allowing them to draw on their own strengths to become successful.
What may states be very different in?
Their socio-economic problems, federalism allows these to be addressed in the best possible way
What is an access point?
Any chance the electorate has to influence politics
Why does federalism increase the access points?
There are two layers so elections for all are open
How does Federalism better protect individual rights?
With two layers of government checking on each other the people are less likely to have draconian laws passed on them
How are states used a policy labs?
States can be used as an experiment to see whether the policy will work nationally
Give an example of a state being used as a policy lab
Massachusetts in 2006 a program was introduced guaranteeing a minimum level of health insurance for their citizens. So this was a policy lab for Obamacare
How does federalism suit a big country?
Legitimacy is hard to maintain unless the people feel close to government and decision making. Federalism allows each state a measure of independence within the federal framework.
What can federalism hide?
Socio-economic and racial inequalities
What is a source of trouble in federalism
Antagonism between the federal government and state government
What can be frustrating about federalism?
The obstruction of the national will (the democratically expressed view of the majority) means that some states can enact legislation that is at odds to the majority, such as Jim Crow laws
What can federalism be in terms of rules?
overly bureaucratic and expensive
