Developing Federalism Chapter 4 Section 3

States’ Rightists and Nationalists The states’ rights position is the view of federalism that favors state and local action in dealing with problems.states’ rights position This view is that the Constitution is a compact among the states. States’ rightists believe state governments are closer to the people and can better reflect their wishes than the national government.

Section 3 States’ Rightists and Nationalists (cont.) The nationalist position rejects the idea of the Constitution as a compact among the states, and believe the national government is not subordinate to the states.nationalist position Believe the powers delegated to the national government should be expanded as necessary. Believe the national government stands for all the people, while each state speaks for only part of the people.

Section 3 Growing National Government To meet the needs of a modern nation, the Supreme Court, Congress, and the president have stretched the powers of the central government using three provisions of the Constitution: –The war powers—the national government has been given the authority to wage war. –The power to regulate interstate commerce.

Section 3 Growing National Government (cont.) –The power to tax and spend—the Sixteenth Amendment gave Congress the power to levy an income tax.income tax Sometimes Congress uses taxes to regulate businesses. Congress can use taxes to influence states to adopt certain programs.

Section 3 Federal Aid to the States Congress has two major ways to influence the policies of state and local governments: –by providing federal grants of money, and –by mandating state and local governments to follow certain policies.

Section 3 Federal Aid to the States (cont.) The national government provides money to the states through federal grants— sums of money given to state or local governments for specific purposes. Taxes are collected by the federal government from the states and then allocated through grants to people in many states. Federal Revenue Returns to the States, 2005