Federalism and Government Structure

Federal and State Government Responsibilities

Federal Government Responsibilities:
- National defense, military, immigration, international trade, interstate commerce, monetary policy, postal service, and admitting new states.
State Government Responsibilities:
- Amendment process for the U.S. Constitution (requires 75% of states for ratification).
- Administer elections (varying timing and regulations across states).
- Manage education, health care, banking, corporate law, insurance law, commerce, and inheritance law.

General Purpose vs. Special Purpose Governments:
- Handle sanitation, public safety, education, utilities, zoning, and housing issues.

Dual Federalism (Layer Cake Model):
- Federal and state governments have distinct, co-equal powers without overlap.
- Characterized U.S. federalism from 1790 to 1933, limited by the Great Depression's impact.
Cooperative Federalism (Marble Cake Model):
- Post-New Deal collaboration between national and state governments on policy issues.
- Overlapping interests; incentivization through funding to ensure state compliance with federal programs.

Federal Devolution:
- Process of returning powers to state governments, initiated by conservative politicians (Nixon, Reagan).
- Shift from categorical grants (specific purpose) to block grants (flexible use) for states.

Sanctuary cities limit cooperation with federal immigration enforcement, leading to complex local and national dynamics.
Detainer Requests:
- Federal requests to hold unauthorized immigrants; local governments can choose whether to comply.
Local policing decisions impact immigrant trust in law enforcement, affecting community safety and cooperation.
State and federal governments can influence local policies through funding incentives or penalties.