AP Government Federalism

In what ways has the commerce power expanded the power of the national government?

• Gibson vs. Ogden- Supreme Court increased the power of the federal government to regulate interstate commerce by broadly defining commerce to encompass virtually every form of commercial activity. However, the Supreme Court's interpretation of the federal government's power to regulate interstate commerce has fluctuated. In recent years the Court has placed limitations on the national government's commerce power.

Explain why gay marriage is a challenge to Full Faith and Credit

• Some states recognize it and some don't

What does the 10th amendment say?

• 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 • Power to the states • The 10th Amendment to the United States Constitution is a guarantee of States' rights. The Constitution designed the federal government to be a government of limited and enumerated, or listed, powers. This means that the federal government only has powers over the things that are specifically given to it in the Constitution. All other powers are reserved to the States.

Explain the relationship between state and local governments in a federal system

• states are responsible for public policies dealing with social, family, and moral issues • the national govt can operate only within its appropriate sphere. • Judges in every state are bound by oath to support the constitution • 10th amendment-states the Constitution's principle of federalism by providing that powers not granted to the federal government nor prohibited to the states by the Constitution are reserved, respectively, to the states or the people.

Why don't the states handle more issues?

A Constitutionally permissible, but not sensible for the states to handle a wide range of other issues. Problem or policy requires the authority and resources of the national government.

What has the Supreme Court generally ruled regarding the meaning of the 10th amendment?

Constitutional truism-US vs Dardy. States have power of their own, but knowing that the power is not greater the national

Examples of cooperative federalism

o 9/11-national govt asked state and local governments to investigate suspected terrorists both national and state public health officials dealt with the threat of anthrax o Highways-1956 congress passed an act creating an interstate highway system o Schools-almost all schools receive federal assistance. They must comply with federal regulations

Tell about cooperative federalism

• A system of govt in which powers and policy assignments are shared between the states and the national govt. they must also share costs, administration and even blame for the programs that work poorly•

federalism

• A way of organizing a nation so that two or more levels of government have authority

Tell how Medicaid is distributed

• Administered by the states, Medicaid receives wide support from both political parties. National govt pays between 50-53 percent of the bill and the state picks up the rest. Congress has increased its funding for the program which has meant increased spending for the states.

What is the Supremacy Clause?

• Article 6 of the constitution. • Makes the constitution national laws • Treaties supreme over state laws when the national government is acting within its constitutional limits.

List the three obligations the states have to one another in our federal system.

• Article IV requires states to give "full faith and credit" to each others' laws and legal proceedings. • States are also required to extradite criminals if asked by another state. • Privileges and immunities

Explain Full Faith and Credit

• Article IV, Section 1, of the U.S. Constitution—provides that the various states must recognize legislative acts, public records, and judicial decisions of the other states within the United States. It states that "Full Faith and Credit shall be given in each State to the public Acts, Records, and judicial Proceedings of every other State."

Tell about issues with unfunded mandates

• Congress passes laws creating financial oblications for the states but provides no funds to meet these oblications. • Ex-american with disabilities act-states had to make colleges and universities accessible to individuals with disabilities, but were not allocated any funds, • EX- clean air act of 1970 established national air quality standards but required states to administer them and to appropriate funds for their implementation

In what ways does federalism decentralize politics and policies?

• Creates more opportunities to participate in government, more power to the judicial branch, creates bureaucrats (different levels and more safety nets)

List the four events that have increased the power of the national government over the states?

• Elaboration of the doctrine of implied power. McCulloch v. Maryland • Definition of the commerce clause-Gibbons v. Ogden • Establish national supremacy -The Civil War • Struggle for racial equality Brown vs Board of education

Explain Extradition and privileges and immunities and interstate compacts

• Extradition- a legal process whereby an alleged criminal offender is surrendered by the officials of one state in which a crime is alleged to have been committed. • Privileges and immunities-a clause in article IV, section 2, of the constitution according to the citizens of each state most of the privileges of citizens in other states. • interstate compacts- An interstate compact is an agreement between two or more states of the United States of America. Article I, Section 10 of the United States Constitution provides that "no state shall enter into an agreement or compact with another state" without the consent of Congress

Discuss formula grants

• Federal categorical grants distributed according to a formula specified in legislation or in administrative regulations. The formulas may be computed on the basis of population, per capita income, percentage of rural population or some other factor.

Discuss project grants

• Federal categorical grants given for specific purposes and awarded on the basis of merits of application. • Example-national science foundation.

Describe categorical grants and tell how they were accomplished

• Federal grants that can be used only for specific purposes or categories of state and local spending. They come with strings attached, such as nondiscrimination provisions or support of labor projects that pay below the local union wage. • Main source of financial aid to state and local govts.

difficulties our federal system causes

• Federalism blocks progress and protects powerful local interests. • decentralizes our politics and decentralizes our policies o ex-drinking age, speed limits, desegregation, abortion

Give an example of when Full Faith and Credit applies and tell why this idea is so important to the United States?

• Marriage and drivers liscences. With out this people could avoid their obligations to pay auto loansby crossing state lines.

List advantages federalism has for democracy

• More levels, more opportunities for participation in politics. • Contribute to democracy by increasing access to government • State and local-even if a party loses at the nation level it can rebuild in its areas of strength and develop leaders under its banner at the state and local level. • By handling most disputes over policy at the state and local level, federalism also reduces decision making and conflict at the national level.

List dis-advantages federalism has for democracy

• States differ in the resources they can devote to services like public education, so the quality of education is heavily dependent on the state that the child resides. • Diversity in policy can also discourage states from providing services that would otherwise be available. Ex-better welfare bebefits will attract poor people, so states are deterred from providing generous benefits.

What two clauses were part of the ruling?

• The first was the supremacy of the national government over the states, which suggests that federal laws preempt state laws and thus preclude their enforcement. • The second was the principle that the national government has certain implied powers that go beyond enumerated powers.

Summarize McColloch v. Maryland

• The first was the supremacy of the national government over the states, which suggests that federal laws preempt state laws and thus preclude their enforcement. • The second was the principle that the national government has certain implied powers that go beyond enumerated powers. • Supreme court ruled in favor of supremecy of the national government over the States