Study the relationships between the federal government and state and local governments, including funding and cooperation.
Constitutional Law: The study of the principles and rules set forth in the U.S. Constitution, including the division of powers between the federal and state governments.
Federalism: The system of government in which power is divided between the national and state governments, and the relationship between the two levels of government.
Intergovernmental Relations: The interactions and transactions that occur between different levels of government, including cooperation, conflict, and negotiation.
Separation of Powers: The division of powers among the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of the federal government.
Federal Grants and Aid Programs: The distribution of federal funding to state and local governments for specific programs and initiatives.
Preemption: The doctrine that federal law takes precedence over state law in cases where there is a conflict.
Delegation of Authority: The transfer of power from one level of government to another, often involving the federal government delegating authority to state and local governments.
Interstate Compacts: Agreements between two or more states that address issues such as trade, transportation, and environmental protection.
Federal Mandates: Requirements imposed by the federal government on state and local governments, which can include regulations, funding conditions, and other mandates.
Cooperative Federalism: The idea that federal and state governments should work together to address issues and solve problems in a collaborative manner.
New Federalism: The shift towards greater states' rights and decentralization of federal power.
Dual Federalism: The idea that national and state governments should operate independently of each other, with clear lines of jurisdiction and authority.
The Supremacy Clause: The provision in the U.S. Constitution that establishes federal law as the supreme law of the land.
Fiscal Federalism: The way in which federal funds are distributed to state and local governments, including grants, loans, and tax policies.
Intergovernmental Lobbying: The efforts by state and local governments to influence federal policy and secure federal funding for their initiatives.
Cooperative Federalism: This is a concept where the federal government and state governments work together on policies and programs to address issues such as health care, education, and infrastructure development.
Dual Federalism: In this concept, responsibilities of the federal government and state governments are clearly separated and strictly defined. It is commonly referred to as "layer cake" federalism.
Fiscal Federalism: This refers to the ways in which money is transferred from the federal government to the state governments to fund programs and services.
Mandates: These are requirements placed on state governments by the federal government to implement federal laws or regulations.
Interstate Compacts: These are agreements between two or more states to work together on a specific issue, such as sharing resources or addressing transportation issues.
Preemption: This occurs when the federal government takes over a specific policy or regulation, thus preventing states from taking individual action.
Nationalization: This occurs when the federal government takes over major policies or programs from the states, such as social security.
Creative Federalism: This concept emphasizes the creative use of funds provided by the federal government to support state programs and services.
New Federalism: This type of federalism decentralizes power back to the state and local governments, allowing them to take a more active role in decision-making and service delivery.
Competitive Federalism: This concept encourages competition among states, by allowing them to have more control over policy decisions and funding.
Devolution: This refers to the transfer of power and responsibilities from the federal government to the states and local governments.
Collaborative Federalism: This concept emphasizes the need for collaboration and cooperation between the federal government and state governments to address complex policy issues.