Federalism Under Bush

Question 1

Why is Bush’s presidency important when it comes to Federalism?

Answer 1

. Bush presided over the largest overall increase in inflation - adjusted federal government spending since Lyndon Johnson’s Great Society programme of the mid 1960’s.

Question 2

How much did Federal spending increase during Bush’s first term as President and how does this compare to previous Republican Presidents?

Answer 2

. Federal spending grew by 33%

. The Federal budget as a share of the economy grew from 18.4% of gross domestic product in 2000 to 20.5% % in 2008

. Ronald Reagan had arrived in Washington pledging to abolish Federal Government departments, Bush oversaw the creation of a new one, the Department of Homeland Security

Question 3

How much did Federal spending on education increase under Bush?

Answer 3

. Spending in the department of education rose from
. $35.5million in 2001 
. $46.3million in 2002
. $57.1million in 2003
. $93.4million in 2006

. Increased by 165% in 5 years

Question 4

How did Bush’s ‘No Child Left Behind’ Act increase Federal intervention?

Answer 4

. The Act set forth funding increases for the poorest, inner city schools.
. This had the effect of of tripling the amount of federal funding for scientifically based reading programmes.

Question 5

How did Federal intervention in Homeland security and defence increase under Bush?

Answer 5

. Between 2001 and 2009, spending by the Department of Defence increased from $290million to $651million, an increase of 125%

. During the Bush years federal spending on defence rose from 15% of the Federal budget to 21%