The A* Politics Blueprint : US Federalism

Is federalism dead or alive?

Federalism is one of the most nuanced debates in US Politics. This guide gives you the arguments, evidence, and frameworks to evaluate both sides.

What's inside:

🏛️ The Concept of Federalism – Division of power between federal and state governments
📈 Historical Expansion of Federal Power – Economic crisis, global superpower status, judicial interpretation
⏳ Phases of Federalism – Dual, Cooperative, New, and "ZigZag" federalism
⚖️ Arguments FOR Federalism – 10th Amendment, policy variation, judicial checks
⚖️ Arguments AGAINST Federalism – Federal expansion, implied powers, financial dependence
💡 Evaluation Framework – Does the USA still have a federal system?

Key evidence included:

✅ COVID-19 response – state autonomy vs federal coordination
✅ Cannabis legalization – state laws vs federal Controlled Substances Act
✅ Sanctuary cities – California vs Trump immigration enforcement
✅ Affordable Care Act – Supreme Court limits federal coercion
✅ US v Lopez (1995) – Supreme Court limits Commerce Clause

Perfect for questions like:

• "Evaluate the extent to which federalism still exists in the USA"
• "Assess the advantages of federalism"
• "To what extent has federal power expanded?"