The new trends now seen in federalism begin with Ronald Reagan and his promise push "New Federalism" in the 1980's. Reagan believed that the states had a big role in our federal system, and categorical grants were not helping the states regrow their economies. This belief by the president led to less federal funding to the states and also to Reagan persuading congress to allow block grants. These grants were less specific than categorical grants, and states could use the federal money on anything they believed would benefit them the most. This in turn gave more power back to the states for decisions on local spending. The Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 also restricted the programs congress could pass without thorough investigations on where the money for those programs would come from. These new trends in federalism were put on hold with the era of George W. Bush. A struggling economy, budget deficits, costly wars, and terrorist attacks meant that the national government had to again grow and control most of our decisions. Our judiciary system has had a great role in the way power was distributed from local, to states, and to the national level. This can be shown through court cases such as U.S. v. Lopez. (1995) The supreme court ruled that Congress lacked constitutional authority to regulate guns within 1,000 feet of the school, under the commerce clause. Majority concluded local gun laws involving schools were a state matter. Thus increasing the state power once again. More recently decisions under Chief Justice John G. Roberts have been much more mixed and leave the future direction of our government in the unknown.
The new trends now seen in federalism begin with Ronald Reagan and his promise push "New Federalism" in the 1980's. Reagan believed that the states had a big role in our federal system, and categorical grants were not helping the states regrow their economies. This belief by the president led to less federal funding to the states and also to Reagan persuading congress to allow block grants. These grants were less specific than categorical grants, and states could use the federal money on anything they believed would benefit them the most. This in turn gave more power back to the states for decisions on local spending. The Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 also restricted the programs congress could pass without thorough investigations on where the money for those programs would come from.
ReplyDeleteThese new trends in federalism were put on hold with the era of George W. Bush. A struggling economy, budget deficits, costly wars, and terrorist attacks meant that the national government had to again grow and control most of our decisions. Our judiciary system has had a great role in the way power was distributed from local, to states, and to the national level. This can be shown through court cases such as U.S. v. Lopez. (1995) The supreme court ruled that Congress lacked constitutional authority to regulate guns within 1,000 feet of the school, under the commerce clause. Majority concluded local gun laws involving schools were a state matter. Thus increasing the state power once again. More recently decisions under Chief Justice John G. Roberts have been much more mixed and leave the future direction of our government in the unknown.