Civics Lesson 2.2 Marble Cake Federalism Wednesday, March 5

Lesson 2.2 Marble Cake Federalism
Wednesday, March 5

Defining Federalism

Federalism is a system of government where the same territory is shared by different levels of government. In the United States, there is sharing and division of power over the nation between the federal government and the state governments. The framers of the Constitution sought to create a strong, unified national government that held limited power, while the states retained much of their power, including police power to regulate and promote the health, safety, morals, and general welfare of their residents. Federalism is interwoven throughout the Constitution.

​Types of Federalism

• Dual federalism (1788-1937): also referred to as “layer-cake” federalism, where government power is divided between the federal and state governments, the division is clear and defined, and the powers are distinct, outlined in the Constitution.

• Cooperative federalism (since 1937): also referred to as “marble-cake” federalism, emerged during the New Deal, where the federal and state governments developed a flexible relationship with overlapping and shared power in cooperation to address specific issues or implement programs

​Cooperative federalism is often referred to as marble cake federalism because the different levels of the government aren't clearly defined, as is the case with the batters of a marble cake. 

​The main features of cooperative federalism include shared responsibility, flexibility, and collaboration. 

Shared Responsibility

​Both the federal government and states share responsibility for policy development and enforcement. Each government level has its own authority, yet it works in collaboration to ensure that policies are effective and consistent across the nation.

Flexibility

Cooperative federalism allows both governments to tailor policies to local needs. Since the federal government establishes standards, states can implement programs that meet the requirements while still addressing their unique needs.

Collaboration

This model also encourages collaboration between the federal and state governments. By working together, each level can ensure that policies are effective and uniform across states.

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is not a main feature of cooperative federalism?

• shared responsibility

• flexibility

• collaboration

• efficiency

​Examples of Cooperative Federalism

The Clean Air Act of 1970 provides a prime example of cooperative federalism by establishing national standards for air pollution administered by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The states are then given the authority to set their limits and standards if they meet or exceed the federal standards.

​Examples of Cooperative Federalism

The No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 is an example of cooperative federalism in education policy. The federal government establishes standards for public schools to meet. At the same time, states can set their own curriculum and initiatives designed to help students achieve those goals.

​Examples of Cooperative Federalism

The Federal Highway Administration works with state governments to design, build and maintain the nation’s highways. While the federal government sets standards for construction and safety, states can build roads for local needs.

​Examples of Cooperative Federalism

The Controlled Substances Act of 1970 established uniform federal enforcement standards while allowing states to set their own regulations and penalties. Such cooperation between the federal and state governments has resulted in a more unified approach to controlled substances policy.

​Examples of Cooperative Federalism

The National Labor Relations Act of 1935 is a crucial example of cooperative federalism in labor policy. While the federal government establishes the floor for collective bargaining and staff rights, individual states have broad discretion to regulate them further as they see fit. Consequently, employee rights may fluctuate depending on where they work.

Multiple Choice

With __________, powers are shared by the federal and state governments in a marble cake fashion.

• cooperative federalism

• constitutional government

• a federal government system

• unified government

Multiple Choice

What model of federalism is sometimes described metaphorically as a marble cake?

• cooperative federalism

• dual federalism

• progressive federalism

• unitary federalism

Multiple Choice

Education and transportation policies are primarily state responsibilities. However, under __________ the federal government has also been making policy in these areas.

• cooperative federalism

• constitutional government

• a federal government system

• unified government

Cooperative federalism's main features—sharing of policy responsibilities and financial resources, interdependence of administration, overlapping of functions—are associated mainly with the federal grant-in-aid programs. Collaboration, grants-in-aid from the national government to the states, bypassing of the states through the establishment of grant programs aiding local or special-district governments directly, and development of auditing procedures and conditional grant requirements all have characterized cooperative federalism since 1933.

Multiple Choice

What is the purpose of categorical grants?

• To give states money with no restrictions

• To give states money for specific purposes

• To give states money for general improvements

• To give states money for compliance with federal laws

Multiple Choice

What is the purpose of mandates?

• To give states money with no restrictions

• To give states money for specific purposes

• To tie funding to state compliance with federal laws

• To regulate interstate commerce

Multiple Choice

What does the Commerce Clause regulate?

• Intrastate commerce

• Interstate commerce

• International commerce

• Local commerce

Multiple Choice

What is the main effect of categorical grants?

• States have complete control over how the money is used

• States have limited control over how the money is used

• States have no control over how the money is used

• States have to comply with federal laws to receive the money

Multiple Choice

What is the main effect of mandates?

• States have complete control over how the money is used

• States have limited control over how the money is used

• States have no control over how the money is used

• States have to comply with federal laws to receive the money

Multiple Choice

How has the power of the federal government over the states changed over time?

• The federal government has always had complete power over the states

• The federal government has had less power over the states

• The federal government has had more power over the states

• The power of the federal government has remained the same

Multiple Choice

In the wake of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, the federal government authorized the Justice Assistance Grant in order to provide states and local governments with the funding necessary to support a range of law enforcement and crime prevention programs.

Which response illustrates the best rationale for the type of grant fitting this scenario?

• Block grants provide states with a great deal of flexibility in using federal funds to address specific local needs

• Categorical grants are important to make sure states adhere to the project rules and regulations prescribed by the federal government

• Revenue sharing is used to disburse part of federal tax revenues to state and local governments for their unlimited use

• Mandates are important to make sure every state implements the same level of safety precautions to prevent future terrorist attacks

Multiple Choice

In 1984, Congress passed the National Minimum Drinking Age Act of 1984, stipulating that states must have a minimum drinking age of 21 in order to receive federal highway funding.

This is an example of which of the following aspects of federal incentives?

• Categorical grants

• Mandates

• Revenue sharing

• Block grants

Multiple Choice

Which of the following describes a way that the federal government could influence state spending on education?

• Closing public schools with low standardized test scores

• Reallocating school sports spending to teacher salaries

• Penalizing states with lower spending per pupil by reducing their representation in Congress

• Issuing a mandate tying federal block grants to the amount of state spending per pupil