evolution of federalism

• Dual federalism 


  1730s-1930s

  State and federal government co-equal with distinct areas of policy over which they had power

  States undertook most governing, supported by SC rulings
• Cooperative federalism (1930s to 1960s)


  Federal government power seen as supreme to the states, greater cooperation over policies that had traditionally been directed and administered by states alone

  Federal government’s power expanded after the Wall Street Crash in 1929 and the economic depression which followed it, WWII and the Cold War
• Nixon's New Federalism (1970s-2000s)

  Movement towards decentralisation

  Rise of block grants -> money given to the states by the federal government to be used at their discretion within broad policy areas

  However, as the federal deficit increased in the 1980s, federal programmes were cut, giving rise to the “unfunded mandate”

  Mid 1990s saw a Republican majority in Congress began an era of ‘zigzag federalism’ as in some policy areas states gained more control whilst in others, Washington tightened its grip.
• Bush 2001-2009


  Acted against federalism - shocking Republicans

  Presided over the largest overall increase in inflation-adjusted federal government spending since the 1960s

  • Total federal spending grew by 33% in Bush’s first term
• Bush 2001-2009 (legislation)

  Bush’s 2002 “No Child Left Behind Act” ushered in the most sweeping changes to federal education policy since the 1960s

  Administartion sponsored a $700 million 'bail out' package for Wall Street

  Military spending increased largely due to 9/11

  • 2001-2006, spending on homeland security increased from £13 million to $69 million
  • Dep of Home Sec formed
• Obama (2009-2017)


  Obama focused on domestic policy - the domain of the state

  Obama’s stimulus package to the states amounted to $246 billion whilst Bush’s was only $20 billion

  BUT Obamacare severely damaged federalism, the Medicaid provision struck down in 2016