1. Federalism
A system of government
under which significant
government powers are
divided between the central
government and smaller
governmental units.

2. “The true theory of our
Constitution is that the
states are independent as
to everything within
themselves, and united as
to everything respecting
foreign nations.”
~
Thomas Jefferson

6. Federalism
A Key Structural Characteristic of
American Government

7. How Federalism is Embodied in
the Constitution
•Constitution makes central
government supreme in certain
matters,
•BUT makes clear state governments
have independent powers.
•Supremacy Clause
•Article I, Section 8
•Tenth Amendment (Reservation
Clause)

8. How Federalism is Embodied in
the Constitution
•Constitution makes central
government supreme in certain
matters,
•BUT makes clear state governments
have independent powers.
•Supremacy Clause
•Article I, Section 8
•Tenth Amendment (Reservation
Clause)

10. VS.

11. How Federalism is Embodied in
the Constitution
•Constitution makes central
government supreme in certain
matters,
•BUT makes clear state governments
have independent powers.
•Supremacy Clause
•Article I, Section 8
•Tenth Amendment (Reservation
Clause)

12. How Federalism is Embodied in
the Constitution
•Constitution makes central
government supreme in certain
matters,
•BUT makes clear state governments
have independent powers.
•Supremacy Clause
•Article I, Section 8
•Tenth Amendment (Reservation
Clause)

13. How Federalism is Embodied in
the Constitution
•Constitution makes central
government supreme in certain
matters,
•BUT makes clear state governments
have independent powers.
•Supremacy Clause
•Article I, Section 8
•Tenth Amendment (Reservation
Clause)

14. Tends to prevent fully
unified, disciplined parties

15. Advantages &
Disadvantages of
Federalism

16. Advantages of Federalism
•Diversity of Needs can be
met.
•Closeness to the people.
•Innovation and
experimentation.

17. Advantages of Federalism
•Diversity of Needs can be
met.
•Closeness to the people.
•Innovation and
experimentation.

18. Advantages of Federalism
•Diversity of Needs can be
met.
•Closeness to the people.
•Innovation and
experimentation.

19. Disadvantages
of Federalism
•Lack of national standards
•Low visibility and lack of
popular control
•Lack of uniformity in rules
and programs

20. Disadvantages
of Federalism
•Lack of national standards
•Low visibility and lack of
popular control
•Lack of uniformity in rules
and programs

21. Disadvantages
of Federalism
•Lack of national standards
•Low visibility and lack of
popular control
•Lack of uniformity in rules
and programs

22. Does Federalism Promote
or Hinder Democracy?

23. How Federalism Promotes
Democracy
•Permits state governments to
counterbalance actions of the
national government.
•Allows people in each state/
community to do what their own
majorities prefer.

24. How Federalism Promotes
Democracy
•Permits state governments to
counterbalance actions of the
national government.
•Allows people in each state/
community to do what their own
majorities prefer.

25. How Federalism Hinders
Democracy
•Responsibility blurred, hard to
assign credit or blame.
•Democratic processes may not
work as well at the state level as
at the national level.

26. How Federalism Hinders
Democracy
•Responsibility blurred, hard to
assign credit or blame.
•Democratic processes may not
work as well at the state level as
at the national level.

27. Types of Federalism

28. 3

29. Dual Federalism

30. Limited national power by
claiming that states retained
certain powers that could not
be regulated through
national action.

31. “National power STOPS at the
state border.”

32. Decline of
Dual Federalism

33. Cooperative Federalism

34. Regulation Of Interstate
Commerce

35. Doctrine of
Incorporation

36. Rise of Fiscal Federalism

37. Creative (Fiscal)
Federalism
the expenditure of federal
funds on programs run in part
through state and local
governments.

38. Rise of Creative Federalism
•Johnson’s Great Society
•Increased Federal spending
made possible by:
–16th Amendment (1913)
–Glass-Steagall Act (1932)
–Abandonment of the gold
standard (Nixon)
•Grant-in-Aid

39. Rise of Creative Federalism
•Johnson’s Great Society
•Increased Federal spending
made possible by:
–16th Amendment (1913)
–Glass-Steagall Act (1932)
–Abandonment of the gold
standard (Nixon)
•Grant-in-Aid

40. Rise of Creative Federalism
•Johnson’s Great Society
•Increased Federal spending
made possible by:
–16th Amendment (1913)
–Glass-Steagall Act (1932)
–Abandonment of the gold
standard (Nixon)
•Grant-in-Aid

41. Rise of Creative Federalism
•Johnson’s Great Society
•Increased Federal spending
made possible by:
–16th Amendment (1913)
–Abandonment of the gold
standard (Nixon)
•Grant-in-Aid

42. Rise of Creative Federalism
•Johnson’s Great Society
•Increased Federal spending
made possible by:
–16th Amendment (1913)
–Abandonment of the gold
standard (Nixon)
•Grant-in-Aid

48. 2

49. Categorical Grants

50. Block Grants

51. Recent Trends in Federalism
•Devolution
•Return of Creative (Fiscal) Federalism