1. Difficulties of Federalism Allocation of power between national and state/local governments –Ex. Hurricane Katrina

2. States’ Rights vs. National Authority Civil Rights –National consensus that all citizens should be able to vote (some states blocked) Economic competition between states –Low taxes (less social services), less environmental protection –“Race to the Bottom”

3. Growth of National Government Many 1789 local problems are now national Growth of national economy, transportation, communication changed people’s attitudes –Great Depression stimulated national action on welfare, unemployment, and farm surpluses –WWII – federal regulation of wages, prices, employment, resources, transprotation, inventions, (education post war) –Growth of gov’t has created a “constituency of, by, and for government”

4. Devolution Post 1968 Major ideological theme of Republican Party –Size of federal government is a threat to individual liberty and to the power of the states –Nixon’s “New Federalism” started process of devolve authority from the national government to the states Convert categorical grants into block grants