Analysis

American Federalism: November in Review

It is perverse to hail devolution as a revival of American federalism… -Martha Derthick, Keeping the Compound Republic , p. 160 We hope...

Andrew Bibby

American Federalism: October in Review

“Eye of newt and toe of frog, Wool of bat and tongue of dog” Macbeth This month we say goodbye to the ghosts and goblins of October,...

American Federalism: September in Review

Andrew Bibby

American Federalism: September in Review

This newsletter provides a roundup of the top seven issues affecting states or with implications for federalism from September

Why Democracies Love Centralization - and Why They Should Avoid It (according to Tocqueville)

Andrew Bibby

Why Democracies Love Centralization - and Why They Should Avoid It (according to Tocqueville)

A nation that loves equality too much may be vulnerable to the pull of centralization and authoritarianism

Johana Linford

American Federalism: August in Review

"Summer's lease hath all too short a date" -Sonnet 18 August was an interesting month for federalism news, and despite a summer...

Andrew Bibby

American Federalism: July in Review

"The maintenance of federalism involves 'thinking federal', that is, being oriented toward the ideals and norms of republicanism,...

Johana Linford

American Federalism: May in Review

"The maintenance of federalism involves 'thinking federal', that is, being oriented toward the ideals and norms of republicanism,...

Andrew Bibby

American Federalism: April in Review

"The maintenance of federalism involves 'thinking federal', that is, being oriented toward the ideals and norms of republicanism,...

Johana Linford

American Federalism: March in Review

Several new items have been added to the Federalism Policy Tracker on a range of important federalism topics, from new EV rules, to...

Johana Linford

American Federalism: February in Review

Several new items have been added to the Federalism Policy Tracker on a range of important federalism topics, from campaign legislation,...

Andrew Bibby

American Federalism: January in Review

A number of new items have been added to the Federalism Policy Tracker on a range of important federalism issues, from the Texas Border...

Justin Stapley

Dobbs, State Constitutions, and Federalism

Justin Stapley In the wake of the Dobbs v. Jackson ruling in 2022, the Supreme Court experienced what appeared to be a collapse of...

Federalism Policy Tracker: Year in Review

Johana Linford

Federalism Policy Tracker: Year in Review

Hank McIntire via Center for Constitutional Studies. Members of the Federalism Index Project (Johana Linford, A. Bibby, Sam Hill)...

B. Kal Munis

Lions, States, and Bears, Oh My!

Wildlife Management as a Case Study in the Complexities and Nuances of American Federalism Wildlife management in the United States has...

Andrew Bibby

American Federalism: July in review

Fourteen new items have been added to the Federalism Policy Tracker on a range of important federalism issues, from immigration to...

Andrew Bibby

American Federalism: June in Review

After a sleepy Spring, June turned out to be a blockbuster month for the federalism policy world. 13 items were added to the Federalism...

Johana Linford

American Federalism: May in review

Eight new items have been added to the Federalism Policy Tracker on a range of issues including prayers in public schools, immigration...

Andrew Bibby

American Federalism: May Preview

April has been another interesting month for federalism policy. 11 items were added to the Federalism Policy Tracker on a range of issues...

Andrew Bibby

American Federalism: April Preview

March was a curious month for federalism studies. It began with a call by some legislators to introduce a 32-hour work week. March ended...

Andrew Bibby

American Federalism: March Preview

March will be an interesting month, with a range of topics from police reform, to internet regulation, and student loan forgiveness.

Andrew Bibby

American Federalism: February Preview

Since December, 25 new policies have been added to the Bill Tracker, across a range of issues from border policy to water rights and gas...

Andrew Bibby

American Federalism: November preview

45 policies have been added to the Policy Tracker in a range of areas including student loan forgiveness, voting rights, and pork production

Andrew Bibby

American Federalism: October preview

A preview of upcoming federalism policies for October 2022

Kendra Savage

Federalism Around the World

Federal systems vary widely in their application, nature, scope, and character.

Justin Stapley

State Constitutions and American Federalism

State Constitutions and American Federalism was a Federalism Index Project event that took place at UVU’s Center for Constitutional Studies.

Emily Linford

State Constitutions and American Federalism Clips

Taken from FIP's Fall 2021 Conference, explore clips that describe various functions, aspects, and implications of state constitutions

Emily Linford

Summer Workshop Readings 2021

Federalism lesson plans from the Schools of Democracy: A Federalism Teacher Workshop (2021).

Andrew Bibby

Measuring Leviathan

Our newest dashboard focuses on one of the key conceptual difficulties in American federalism and how power has "shifted" from the states

Emily Linford

Foot Voting and Federalism: An Interview with Ilya Somin

Join Ilya Somin and CCS Senior Research Fellow Sam Hill discuss Somin's new book Free to Move: Foot Voting, Migration, and Political Freedom

The Emergency Powers of State Governments and Governors in the U.S. Federal System

John Dinan

The Emergency Powers of State Governments and Governors in the U.S. Federal System

One of the many consequences of the coronavirus pandemic has been a rediscovery of the importance of state governments and an awareness...

Emily Linford

A Madisonian Approach to Federalism: An Interview with Rodney Smith

Director Smith shares thoughts on U.S. federalism, how the states can do better to have their voices heard, & Madisonian constitutionalism

Christopher Dreisbach

Federalist Literacy

Most “Anti-Federalists” were not anti-federalist: they favored a balance of power between the national government and individual state...

Emily Linford

Interview with Troy Smith

Troy Smith discusses his recent article on our website

Troy Smith

Understanding the Federalism Disputes Exposed by COVID-19: A Primer

The federal and state governments’ lack of preparation and response to COVID-19 is disheartening given that experts have been warning for...

Emily Linford

Federalism, Pandemics, and Leadership: An Interview with Grace Mallon

Last week, we had the pleasure of sitting down to an interview with Grace Mallon, a doctoral candidate in History at the University of...

Emily Linford

Constitutional Literacy: An Interview with Christopher Dreisbach

For our second week of federalism month, we had the privilege of interviewing Rev. Christopher Dreisbach and hear his thoughts on...

State Managed and Locally Executed: Federalism in Practice at FEMA

Andrew Bibby

State Managed and Locally Executed: Federalism in Practice at FEMA

Effective communication between the federal government and the states is in the most profound sense a matter of life and death.

Travis Hadley

Unfunded Mandates: A Historical Overview

Since Unfunded Mandates therefore force the states to do something and spend their own money to do it, the controversy goes to the heart of

Doug Walker

James Madison's Views of Federalism

This essay discusses Madison’s views on federalism and determines whether or not they remained consistent over the course of his career.