Political Science Assignment: Federalism and US Government

This homework assignment delves into the concept of federalism, exploring the division of powers between the national and state governments in the United States. The assignment examines the evolution of federalism, from dual federalism to cooperative and regulated federalism, highlighting the changing relationships between the federal government and the states. It discusses key historical events and developments that shaped these shifts, including the impact of the Great Depression and the rise of new federalism. The assignment also explores contemporary issues, such as the legalization of marijuana, same-sex marriage, and immigration policies, and their implications for the balance of power within the federal system. The student provides their perspective on whether the diverse policies adopted by states are a positive or negative aspect of the US political system, supporting their arguments with references to the assigned readings.

Week #3 Homework Questions
Name <please type your name here>
Instructions: Please do not delete the original questions or the numbering. Simply insert your response below
each question. Support your answers with specific information in the chapter. When you have completed these
questions, submit them to your instructor for a grade through the Week #3 drop box.
Federalism
We the People: Chapter 3
1. Where do you stand on the question of legalizing marijuana? Is it acceptable for marijuana to be regulated in
very different ways by the fifty states and by the federal government? Consult this map to see these contrasts
across the USA today, and explain your reasoning.
On standing of the question of legalizing Marijuana, Marijuana must be regulated. It should be regulated
through the process of legalization.The application of Marijuana gives boost to the economy. However, it should
be handed over to a targeted group of audience having a fixed range of age.
In the eight states of USA, adults consume legally marijuana and that can also transform to adults in
the 50 states (Riker 2012). According to the new bill which says that Regulate Marijuana like Alcohol Act and it
should be regulated by the Bureau of Alcohol. In addition, the bill would be amended in such a way that
marijuana would be taxed. It is also stated that Colorado has demonstrated the advantages of ending the
prohibition of marijuana. Other than Colorado, some other 29 states of America, supports the legalization of
cannabis as it allows the responsible adults to legalize the purchasing marijuana which they feel that it would
boost the economy not the population of prison (Ginsberg 2016)
2. Summarize how the Constitution divides up powers between the national (federal) government and the fifty
state governments. How are the states supposed to relate to each other? Why did the writers of the Constitution
create such a complicated “federal” system, rather than a more simple “unitary” system?
The constitution has its important influence on the life of America through federalism. It is regarded as
the division of powers between the state government and national government. It creates a national government
which includes a legislative, executive and judiciary having the system of checks and balances which is existing
among these three branches. Secondly, it creates a division of power between states and federal government.
According to the Article IV, the states recognize the actions as well as the decisions taken by the other
states. The Section 1 of the article states about Full Faith and Credit where each state is obliged to give respect
to the acts of public and judicial proceedings (Riker 2012; Ginsberg 2016)).
In the Unitary system of Government, the central head of the Government takes vital decisions and the
government who have less power implement decisions that the former. However, in the federal system of
government, the Central government shares its power to the government of the lower levels, where the former
also have the important decision making power. The framers of American constitution tends to limit the power of
central government because a strong central government favors the rich business class people who threatens
the power of the state and the plebian and federalism contributes to the political assurance of the country
(Ginsberg 2016)
3. Describe the relationship that existed between the national government and the states during the period of
“Dual Federalism.” What historical developments triggered the gradual expansion of federal government power?
What arguments were made by those who opposed this expansion, favoring “states’ rights?”
In the Dual Government, the division of power took place between the national government and state
government where the state governments exercise the powers, which are allocated to them without waging any
interference from the federal government.
The period existed with the era of Civil war and era of 1930, it granted the economy of America from the
clutches of the dual federalism which was close from the principles of free enterprise.
However, the entrepreneurs did not want complete separation from the control of government. They
supported law and order and also wanted a stable currency. They wanted the courts and police to strengthen

contracts and stop the trespasses. They wanted roads railroads and canals and they believe it is the national
government who can bring these improvements in the country.
4. What kind of relationship developed between the national government and the states under “Cooperative
Federalism” that began in the 1930s? What historical events and developments caused this huge shift in
federal-state relations to occur?
The cooperative federalism is also known by the name of Cooperative Federalism where the nation and
state governments make their interaction cooperative and collective in order to solve the common problems
other than making the policies separately.
The path to increase the power of the actions of federal started when the state failed to cope up with the
demands that took birth from the Great Depression in the year 1930. The states and the localities therefore, took
the responsibility of addressing the poor’s needs usually by conducting the charity maintained through private.
However, with the coming of the federal grants, the state started realizing its power in the country. categorical
grants, it determined to give grants to the state and the local governments through the categorical grants.
Therefore, the spending on the grants in aid grew dramatically since the year 1990. These enhances the
growing of the expectations of public and what the government must do. This growth of categorical funds has
given rise to a kind of federalism.
5. Describe how the relationship between the states and national government functions under our current
system of “Regulated Federalism” today. What complaints do states have about the way they are treated by the
federal government?
It is a type of federalism where the Congress imposes legislation on the localities and states. Where
they are required to acquire the national standards where the national government is allowed to override the
local actions or states in some of the areas of policy in the foreign policy or willingly to give the strike first in
order to override the attacks of enemy.
Under regulated federalism, the states go against then regulations or conditions of the unfunded
mandates in the purpose of receiving grants which imposes costs on the local governments as well as on the
states and are not compensated by the federal government (Patterson 2015).
6. What shifts in federalism are associated with ‘new federalism’ and ‘devolution?’ Why has this agenda been
controversial? Use the devolution of redistributive (anti-poverty) programs to illustrate your answer. Do you
generally support this shift, or do you favor a stronger federal role in anti-poverty programs? Explain.
Providing the block grants to the states is a policy which falls under the new Deal of Franklin Roosevelt .
The new Federalism it is a philosophy of devolution or transferring of the some powers to the states of the
Federal Government of the United States. Through the rendering of the block grants to the states in order to
resolve the social issues, the government monitors the outcomes and it describes how the programs would be
implemented such as granting the states through the mode of block grant (Ginsberg 2016).
The money would be utilized by the state to implement the programs based on anti- poverty like
providing temporary assistance to the needy families. Secondly, the implementation of the progressive taxation
which would transfer the wealth from rich to poor, is a far better idea under the terms of the new federalism.
7. Federalism and Your Future:
The authors mention that in recent years state governments have adopted very different policies on a variety of
policies that include the legalization of marijuana, same-sex marriage, expansion of Medicaid benefits, and
foreign immigration. Is this a positive aspect of our political system that states are free to follow very different
and diverse policies? Or, is this a negative aspect that will potentially tear us apart as a nation? Explain your
position.
The state governments focused on devising different policies for the state and it might affect the nation
in the mixed ways. It can be both positive and negative. Through the legalizing of marijuana, the states can
utilize well by means of utilizing its positive role in medication but at the same time, it is important for the state to
understand the side effects of cannabis and this should be regulated properly. In terms of same sex marriage, it
is giving right to the emotions of the people (Ginsberg 2016). The foreign immigration in terms of giving a safe
space to those people who are being affected by the terrorism in terms of economical boost. The United States’
federalism has given individual rights, rights to freedom of speech and expression and giving the states through
the process of devolution, an amount of freedom to take decisions regarding these aspects. Therefore, the

working of the federalism in America is the sign of being positive about the political system of USA (Ginsberg
2016)

References
Ginsberg. 2016. WE THE PEOPLE, W.W. NORTON Retrieved 16 September 2017
Patterson, J.T., 2015. New Deal and States: Federalism in Transition. Princeton University Press.
Riker, W.H., 2012. The development of American federalism. Springer Science & Business Media.