Section 4  

                           

                 

Federalism and Intergovernmental Relations

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Readings: chapter 4.

One cannot understand American politics without an appreciation of the impact of our federal structure on political conflict. Federalism increases each citizen's access to government, but also complicates policy making and policy implementation. Conflict over highly charged social issues (such as welfare, health care and abortion to name a few) is simultaneously carried on in the state legislatures, U.S. Congress, state court systems, the federal appeals courts, the Supreme Court and even within the White House. With so many arenas of political conflict available, political activists choose the ones where they are most likely to be successful. This is part of the reason the abortion issue remains unresolved almost 25 years after Roe v. Wade.  Activists pick and choose where to engage in political conflict. Zen.

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Your Name

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4.1 While the United States is clearly a federal system, in some ways our political system resmbles a unitary system and in other ways it resembles a confederal system. Which type of system (type "F"ederal "U"nitary or "C"onfederal) do the following policy areas most resemble? All examples are a matter of interpretation so don't worry too much about being absolutely correct.   

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education

civil rights

pollution regulation

law enforcement

national defense

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4.2 Explain the meanings of "compact" and "national" theories of government.

 

 

4.3 High exit costs...(choose two answers)

make redistributive policies easier to finance.

make redistributive policies harder to finance.

are more likely found at the federal level.

are more likely found at the state level.

are more likely found at the local level.

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4.4 Imagine that you are the president of a large chemical producer which owns factories in four states. Who (Federal or state governments) would you like to have making the pollution regulations that affect your business? Why? Why might you want the other level of government?

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Questions or Comments? send e-mail to Dr. Werner at drblw@aol.com