The Constitutional Framework Of US Government: The Current Balance Of Power Between Individual States And Federal Government

Question 1

What has there been a clear shift away from in recent decades in terms of federalism?

Answer 1

Shift in power away from individual sates to central government

Question 2

What are key areas were states play a important role in?

Answer 2

The ability to legislate in a wide range of areas including local taxes and access to abortions
The issue of the death penalty
States run and conduct election, decagon on whether to hold caucuses or primaries as a way of selecting party candidates, and the system for the presidential election

Question 3

What are some examples of the wide areas of states can legislate?

Answer 3

North Dakota and Arkansas have tightly restricted abortion laws

Question 4

What is an example of states being at the forefront of the response at time of emergency?

Answer 4

During Hurricanes Katrina and Sandy and the Covid-19 pandemic, though federal agencies such as the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) also get involved

Question 5

What is an example of differing stagey for states?

Answer 5

During Covid-19 Ohio was a lot quicker to response than slower state like Florida, or even Arkansas which never issued a full lockdown

Question 6

What has the debate about federalism been about in recent years?

Answer 6

More on what from of interference the central government should take, rather than on how far it should interfere in the rights of individual states