How did the federal government

get big?

Theres too much government in my life.

___ Agree

___Disagree

___I have no idea what youre talking about, Ms. Lucisano

Debate over the size of government

Opponents of big government:

Government plays too big a role in domestic

policy (far beyond protecting life, lib, happiness)
High taxes and regulatory excess have hampered
business prosperity and economic growth
Entitlement spending (40% of budget) is
excessive, and unsustainable on its current
trajectory
Weve reached a tipping point and government
must do less and spend less rather than tax more

Proponents of an active federal government:

Govt spending is needed due to:

protecting welfare of citizens from the excesses of
the wealthy few
ensuring entitlements - ie. social welfare programs
- esp. true in difficult economic times when govt is
needed for job creation, providing health, education
and welfare for its citizenry
Reducing the size of government would lead to
unacceptable reductions in social welfare,
environmental protection, consumer safety and
other public goods

THE EVOLUTION OF FEDERALISM - THREE ERAS

DUAL FEDERALISM

COOPERATIVE FEDERALISM

NEW FEDERALISM

1) DUAL FEDERALISM

Views the Constitution as giving a limited list of

powersprimarily foreign policy and national
defenseto the national government, leaving the
rest to the sovereign states.

Each level of government is dominant within its own

sphere.

The Supreme Court serves as the umpire between

the national government and the states in disputes
over which level of government has responsibility
for a particular activity.

2) COOPERATIVE FEDERALISM

Stresses federalism as a system of intergovernmental relations in delivering

governmental goods and services to the people and calls for cooperation among
various levels of government.
all levels of government are involved in a variety of issues and programs (marble
cake) , rather than a layer cake, or dual federalism, with fixed divisions between
layers or levels of government.

Shift occurred during the Great Depression

National government became major player in domestic policy (ie. Social Security)

Major shift in money from federal government to state/local governments, ie: grant-in-aid
money flooded to states for public works projects, relief agencies (alpabetocracy: NRA, TVA,
CCC)
Deepened in 1960s with the broadening scope of federal domestic policies and programs (ie.
Medicare/Medicaid)

3) NEW FEDERALISM

Also known as the Devolution Revolution (because

the power of the federal government devolved back to
states), this type of federalism took root during the
Reagan admin. based on notion that government had
become too big
Goal: transferring responsibility for policies from the
federal government to state and local governments
Proposed drastic cuts to domestic programs,
especially welfare, and cuts in income tax
New federalism is still a battleground b/w dual and
cooperative federalism and to some extent it remains
to be seen which direction the nation will take

CONSTITUTIONAL BASIS OF FEDERALISM

SUPREMACY CLAUSE: This Constitution, and the Laws of the United States which shall be
made in pursuance thereof; and all treaties made, or which shall be made, under the
authority of the United States, shall be the supreme law of the land; and the judges in every
state shall be bound thereby, anything in the constitution or laws of any state to the contrary
notwithstanding.
10th AMENDMENT: The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor
prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.

CONSTITUTIONAL BASIS FOR STRENGTHENING

GOVERNMENT
IMPLIED POWERS (AKA The Elastic Clause): The Congress shall have Power
... To make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into
Execution the foregoing Powers, and all other Powers vested by this
Constitution in the Government of the United States, or in any Department or
Officer thereof.
COMMERCE CLAUSE: [The Congress shall have Power] To regulate
Commerce with foreign Nations, and among the several States, and with the
Indian Tribes;

MOST JUSTIFICATION FOR THE GROWTH OF GOVT

OCCURRED DUE TO:

CONSTITUTIONAL INTERPRETATIONS OF IMPLIED POWERS AND

COMMERCE CLAUSE
THE NEW DEAL
STRUGGLE FOR RACIAL EQUALITY IN THE 60S