Federalism and Grants (How things get done) Unit 1: Const. Underpinnings

Taking a Step Back Before We Begin… Questions to consider: Congresswoman Maxine Waters helps to get a law passed that will increase the number of parks in low income neighborhoods across the country.  What’s the first thing the law needs to make sure it can actually happen?  Once the law is funded  how will the program actually get done? Who needs to be a part of the conversation? Who’s doing the actual work? Hence the development of what are called GRANTS- programs that are funded and carried out by state and local govts

I. How Grants Have Developed  As natl. gov’t has grown more powerful, its used state and local govts to administer programs that have federal $  This led to development of fed grants to state and local govts to roll out programs

II. Purposes of Fed. Grants  Reduces the workload of the fed govt  States get needed revenue (income)  Establishes federal minimum standards in important areas #FMS  Equalizes $ among rich & poor states

CATEGORIAL PROJECT BLOCK III. TYPES of Fed Grants

IV. Politics & Issues of federal grants  Dems  like spending more $ with more  Republicans  like spending less $ fewer “strings attached” Which one of these supports categorical grants? Block grants? An example of the politics: Welfare Reform Act of 1996  AFDC (Categorical)  TANF(Block)

V. Federal Mandates Definition(s) of a Mandate  Mandate: federal order forced on states Two Types:  Funded Mandate  Unfunded Mandate EXAMPLES  Americans w/ Disabilities Act (1990)  Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act (1970)  Purpose: to meet a goal of fed. Govt #FMS

VI. Impact on States  Financial burden on states  The “Federal Hand”  Federal Blackmail

VII. Contract with America (1994)  A political restructuring of the federal programs and how they are funded and operated  Led by Republican controlled House and Senate after 1994 Congressional election  Attempt to shift power back to the states Some examples of the program  Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995  Welfare Reform Act of 1996 Former Speaker of the House, Newt Gingrich

Discussion Qs- Grants 1. Discuss: categorical, project & block grants (2 mins) 2. Explain what a federal mandate is. Discuss 1 example.(2 mins) 3. Discuss the impact of mandates on the states(2 mins)