U.S. Government and Civics / Unit 3: Federalism
3.6 Changing Federalism
Notes
The balance between national and state power has shifted over time.
- Dual federalism ("layer cake"): national and state governments work in separate spheres. Common before the 1930s.
- Cooperative federalism ("marble cake"): levels of government share responsibilities and funding. Grew during the New Deal in the 1930s and the Great Society in the 1960s.
- Devolution: returning power and responsibility from the national government to the states.
- The 10th Amendment is often cited by those who favor state power.
- ***Printz v. United States* (1997)**: Congress cannot force local officials to carry out a federal program (background checks for gun buyers).
- Federalism lets states act as "laboratories of democracy," trying policies that others may copy.
Practice
Federal, state and local governments share the cost and work of building the interstate highway system. This best illustrates:
Levels of government mixing roles is the "marble cake" model.
Congress turns control of a welfare program over to the states and gives them more freedom to run it. This is an example of:
Devolution shifts responsibility from the national government back to the states.
In Printz v. United States, the Supreme Court ruled that:
The Court said forcing state officials to enforce federal law violates state sovereignty.
Ready for more? Take the Unit 3 test.