PAIRED FEDERALISM ASSIGNMENT
For this assignment you MUST have a partner.
Choose someone you trust and can make contact
with (email, text, etc…). If you choose to work
alone, then you will have to do all 8 questions on
your own.
*THIS WILL COUNT AS A MAJOR GRADE*
You will each answer 4 of the questions listed on
this page.
STEP 1
sign up for the class on www.turnitin.com
1st period
7015640
raiderap1
2nd period
7015645
raiderap2
STEP 2
read over the 8 questions
STEP 3
decide which person is going to answer which
question and write that name here…then go to the
class website and enter the same info
1___________________________________
2___________________________________
3___________________________________
4___________________________________
5___________________________________
6___________________________________
7___________________________________
8___________________________________
STEP 4
Use Chapter 3 of your textbook AND any other
sources (make sure to cite them at the end of each
answer…this is not an English paper so you don’t
have to follow MLA…cite it in a way that someone
could find your quote, source, etc… )
1. Define federalism. How is federalism different
from unitary governments and confederations?
Why is federalism important to understanding
American government?
2. What does the Constitution have to say about
national versus state power? How was the
supremacy of the national government established
in the American federal system?
3. Explain the obligations that states have to each
other. Give examples to illustrate your answer.
4. Why does cooperative federalism, as compared
to dual federalism, best describe the American
federal system today? Why is fiscal federalism
important to intergovernmental relations?
5. Compare and contrast the different types of
federal aid and grants given to states and cities.
What is the nature of the competition for federal
grants? Under what conditions might states not
want to receive federal aid?
6. What are the advantages and disadvantages of
federalism for democracy? Give examples to
illustrate your answer.
7. How and why has federalism contributed to the
growth of the national government?
8. Evaluate federalism as a way of organizing
government in America. Could the American
system have been a unitary system?