What is federalism? - -a system of level, before they are implemented at the national
government in which powers are divided levels. Some examples include California being
between a national government and regional the first state to limit greenhouse gas emissions,
government. It allows for shared power, dual states funding stem cell research, expanding
sovereignty and creates a compound republic. health care etc.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of What is the price of federalism? - -
federalism? - -it prevents abuse of power, inequities are the price of federalism. There are
it reflects preferences of citizens, its more often coordination problems and confusion. also
responsive to citizens and it allows for innovation a race to the bottom - in which states purposely
- states can act as laboratories of democracy. do little to improve standing so they can receive
aid.
What happens when federal and state laws
conflict? - -national laws and treates are What is the states' role in amending the
always superior to state laws whenever the two constitution? In proposing a constitutional
clash - based off supremacy clause convention? - -states can bring an
amendment up for ratification, they can propose
a constitutional convention. They must achieve a
How does the federal government get states to certain number of votes to amend the
act as they wish? What are the carrots and stick? constitution.
- -The government gets states to act as
they wish through incentives. The carrots are
grants in aid (categorical or block), but in order to What are the state powers expressly provided in
receive grants they must pass mandates the constitution? - -they can amend the
constitution, they can propose a constitutional
convention, elect senators (at the beginning),
Why is the Chattahooche River Dispute an elect electors and form interstate compacts
example of federalism? - -it raises the
issue of interstate boundaries- who has proper
right to use what amount of the water. Why are the enumerated federal powers
important to federalism? - -Government
can only use the powers specifically listed in the
Are local governments included in the definition Constitution.
of federalism? - -local governments are not
included in definition of the state. they are
creatures of the state What are concurrent powers? - -
governmental authority shared by national and
state governments, such as the power to tax
What did Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis residents.
mean by calling state "laboratories of These include power to tax, borrow and spend
democracy?" What are some examples of this? -
-he meant that voters in states could
implement policies to see if they work at the state What is full faith and credit? What is an important
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