Types of Federalism
Supreme Court Cases
Grants and Mandates
Constitutional Provisions
Advantage and Disadvantages
100

This model clearly separates national and state authority into distinct spheres, like layers of a cake.


What is dual federalism

100


In this 1819 case, the Supreme Court upheld Congress’s authority to charter a national bank and limited states’ ability to tax federal institutions.


What is McCulloch v. Maryland

100

This kind of federal transfer has strict rules that limit how recipients may use the funds.


What is a categorical grant?

100

This amendment reserves powers not delegated to the national government, nor prohibited to the states, to the states or the people.


What is the tenth amendment? 

100

This benefit of federalism allows states to test new policies that other states or the national government might later adopt.


What is policy innovation?

200


This model blends national, state, and local responsibilities, like the swirls in a marble cake.


What is cooperative federalism?

200


In this 1824 case, the Supreme Court ruled that Congress could regulate interstate navigation under the commerce clause.


What is Gibbons v. Ogden?

200

This type of grant gives state and local governments more discretion than a categorical grant.


What is a block grant?

200

This clause establishes that the Constitution and valid federal laws are the supreme law of the land.


What is the supremacy clause? 

200

This feature of federalism lets people seek policy change through more than one level of government


What is increased political participation for policy change?

300


This approach, promoted by presidents such as Nixon and Reagan, sought to return policy authority to the states and give them more discretion.


What is new federalism?

300

In this 2012 case, the Supreme Court struck down several parts of Arizona’s immigration law, affirming federal authority over immigration.


What is Arizona v. United States?

300

These federal requirements place obligations on state or local governments without fully paying the costs of compliance.


What are unfunded mandates?

300

Article I, Section 8 lists these powers granted to Congress, including regulating interstate commerce and declaring war.


What are unfunded mandates?

300

This disadvantage occurs when states’ different fiscal resources result in unequal public services, such as education or health care.


What are economic disparities among states?

400


 In this model, national and state governments have separate, clearly defined areas of authority.


What is dual federalism? 

400

In this 1895 case, the Supreme Court limited federal authority over manufacturing by distinguishing production from interstate commerce.


What is United States v. E. C. Knight?

400

This flexible grant type provides funds for a broad purpose and gives states and local governments greater spending discretion.


What is a block grant?

400

This clause allows Congress to pass laws necessary and proper for carrying out its enumerated powers.


What is the necessary and proper clause?

400

This harmful competition can occur when states lower taxes or regulations to attract businesses, potentially weakening worker protections or public revenue.


What is a race to the bottom?

500


This model expanded during the Great Depression as national and state governments coordinated responses to economic and social problems.


What is cooperative federalism?

500

In this 1995 case, the Supreme Court struck down a federal law banning guns near schools, ruling that the regulated activity did not substantially affect interstate commerce.

What is United States v. Lopez? 

500

This process occurs when federal authorities add requirements to flexible grants, reducing the recipient’s discretion over time.


What is creeping categorization? 

500

This clause requires states to respect other states’ court decisions, public acts, and contracts.


What is the full faith and credit clause? 

500

This challenge can arise when divided authority, checks and balances, or disputes between levels of government make a coordinated national response difficult.


What is difficulty taking coordinated national action? 

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