Transcript Chapter 3
Chapter 3 Federalism A way of organizing a nation so that two or more levels of government have formal authority over the same area of people Federal Gov’t State Gov’t Confederations Place all or most of the power in the hands of the components while the national gov’t is weak. Intergovernmental Relations The entire set of interactions among national, state, and local gov’ts More Federalism Decentralizes politics in America Decentralizes policies in America Division of Power Supremacy Clause "This Constitution, and the Laws of the United States which shall be made in Pursuance thereof; and all Treaties made, or which shall be made, under the Authority of the United States, shall be the supreme Law of the Land; and the Judges in every State shall be bound thereby, any Thing in the Constitution or Laws of any State to the contrary notwithstanding." U.S. Const. art. VI, Paragraph 2 Establishes the Const., laws of the national gov’t, and treaties as the supreme law of the land. More Division 10th Amendment “The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.” National Supremacy Implied Powers: McCulloch v Maryland Powers that go beyond enumerated powers Powers specifically listed in the Const. Basis of the “elastic clause” “To make all laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into execution the foregoing powers, and all other powers vested by this Constitution in the government of the United States, or in any department or officer thereof.” Nat’l Sup. Commerce Power Gibbons v Ogden Steamboat monopoly in New York Defined commerce very broadly Included transportation States’ Obligations Full faith and credit Article IV If you are a convicted murderer in Wyoming, you are a murderer in Texas Extradition If you commit a crime in Washington and run and are caught in New York, NY will send you back to WA More States Privileges and Immunities Can’t make laws that say that if you are not from this state you can’t work here. Court has been vague on what rights are included under this clause I.R. today Duel Federalism States and Feds. Each remain supreme within their own spheres Cooperative Federalism Powers and policy assignments are shared between states and the nat’l gov’t Shared costs Federal guidelines Shared Administration Fiscal Federalism Pattern of spending, taxing, and providing grants in the federal system Categorical Grants Main source of fed. aid to state and local gov’ts Project Grants: awarded on basis of competitive applications Formula Grants: distributed according to a formula Block Grants Automatically given to states or locals and they have the descresion as to how they spend them. Well…there’s a small problem with Federalism… Unfunded Mandates Feds require something, but they expect the states to pay for it In the last half of the twentieth century, voter turnout in federal elections has declined. During the same period, voter turnout has been higher in presidential elections than in midterm elections. a) Identify two factors that have contributed to the overall decline in turnout in federal elections and explain how each factor has contributed to the overall decline b) Indentify and explain two reasons why voter turnout has been higher in presidential elections than in midterm elections