Foundations of Federalism
Federalism divides power between which two entities?
What are the national and state governments?
This landmark case established implied powers for the federal government, allowing it to create a national bank.
What is McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)?
The federal government has the exclusive power to regulate commerce and provide for this type of defense.
What is national defense?
his term describes a strict separation of federal and state powers, often compared to a “layer cake.”
What is dual federalism?
This landmark 1965 law aimed to protect voting rights across the United States, particularly in Southern states like Texas.
What is the Voting Rights Act?
Texas brought a strong tradition of this when it joined the United States in 1845.
What is state sovereignty?
This case expanded federal power by allowing Congress to regulate interstate commerce.
What is Gibbons v. Ogden (1824)?
Texas exercises this power independently to establish its own curriculum and education policies.
What is the power over public education?
This 1960s set of social programs exemplified cooperative federalism through joint federal-state administration.
What is the Great Society?
This section of the Voting Rights Act required Texas to get federal approval for changes to voting laws.
What is Section 5?
Name one major weakness of the Articles of Confederation that led to the adoption of a federal system.
What is the inability to tax or the inability to regulate interstate commerce?
This case struck down a key part of the Voting Rights Act and had a significant impact on voting laws in Texas.
What is Shelby County v. Holder (2013)?
This clause in the Constitution allows Congress to expand its powers to fulfill its duties.
What is the "Necessary and Proper" clause?
This movement in the 1970s and 80s, promoted by Nixon and Reagan, aimed to give states more control over federal funds.
What is New Federalism?
After this 2013 Supreme Court case, Texas enacted more restrictive voting laws that impacted minority communities.
What is Shelby County v. Holder?
This amendment reinforces federalism by reserving powers not delegated to the federal government for the states.
What is the Tenth Amendment?
This case ruled that the federal government cannot “commandeer” state officers to enforce federal regulations.
What is Printz v. United States (1997)?
This type of federalism uses regulatory and spending powers to make states adopt federal policies, often through attached conditions.
What is coercive federalism?
Texas resisted this type of mandate, which imposes federal requirements on states without providing funding.
What is an unfunded mandate?
Texas implemented this controversial voting requirement, which has been criticized for disproportionately affecting minority voters.
What is the voter ID law?
This group was concerned that the new U.S. Constitution would create a powerful central government that threatened individual liberties.
Who were the Anti-Federalists?
This case declared that the Union is “indestructible” and addressed the legality of state secession.
What is Texas v. White (1869)?
This principle allows Texas to expand individual rights beyond the minimum standards set by the U.S. Constitution.
What is "independent state grounds"?
This case shifted federalism from dual to cooperative by greatly expanding federal power through the Commerce Clause.
What is Wickard v. Filburn (1942)?
This influential Texas politician and civil rights leader helped advance voting rights protections in the state.
Who is Barbara Jordan?