1. Section 3 The Politics of Contemporary Federalism
Chapter 4 Federalism
Section 3 The Politics of Contemporary Federalism

2. Reasons for National Control
Social and economic problems, such as pollution and discrimination, are easier to solve at the national level.
Members of Congress want to control policies that will affect their own states.
Congress can block states from doing certain things, such as practicing segregation.
States have more domestic power, but no foreign power.
Example: States cannot sign a trade agreement with a foreign nation.
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3. Getting States to Cooperate
Federal policy makers experience difficulties enforcing legislation in the states.
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4. How the National Government Influences the States
Note to teachers: See Figure 4.4 of the Student Text (page 121) for examples of the character of the national/state relationship for each of the options listed in this slide.
- A state has the most freedom to set its own policy with a block grant.
- The number of unfunded mandates has increased in recent decades.

5. Moving Power to the States
Devolution = The effort to give more power and responsibility back to the states
Frustration with the size of the national government has led to the movement called devolution.
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6. Moving Power to the States
The push for devolution has come from three sources:
The states themselves
Congress
The Supreme Court
The national government and the states constantly struggle for power.
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7. Devolution and the Bush Administration
Before September 11, 2001, President George W. Bush planned to strengthen states’ rights.
After September 11, 2001, this plan faded because of the national government’s increased role in protecting the country.
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8. Guided Reading
C. Funds D. Categorical E. Block F. Unfunded mandate B. Supreme Court
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9. Why is keeping power at the state and local levels important?
Your Turn
“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.” (U.S. Constitution, Amendment X)
Why is keeping power at the state and local levels important?
Note to teachers: Encourage students to think about needs of local communities, such as building codes or specific environmental issues, that only relate to small areas. Letting people who are locally affected be in control promotes stewardship, responsibility, and good citizenship. Unaffected people tend to care less and take less action. Also, if responsibility for local concerns is left to a federal government, the concerns may be ignored or take a long time to resolve. Encourage students to share ways that they or their family and/or friends have personally affected local government. Is it easier to overturn a bad law at a local, state, or federal level?
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