Chapter 3: Federalism

Study Plan

In this chapter, we will:

• look at how federalism was defined in the Constitution. The framers sought to limit national power by giving states enough power to check the federal government.
• examine how the federal framework has changed in recent years, and how the national government’s power grew. After the 1930s, the national government began to expand, yet the states maintained most of their traditional powers.
• assess how changes in federalism reflect the changes in how Americans perceive liberty, equality, and democracy. American federalism has always been a work in progress. As federal, state, and local governments change, questions about the relationship between American political values and federalism continue to emerge.
• examine current conflicts over federalism. In recent years, politicians and advocates who want to expand government’s role on issues such as health care and immigration have pressed their agenda in the states.

As you work through the below assignments, don't forget to generate a Progress Report. Fill out the sections you have completed and send a copy to your email account.

Organize

1. Follow this Study Plan to access your chapter assignments.
2. Print out the Chapter Outline and bring it to lecture to help structure your note-taking and check-off topics covered in class.
3. Access Quiz+! The results of this chapter quiz create a Custom Study Plan that links you directly to materials that will assist your pre-exam review.

Learn

1. Read Chapter 3 in your textbook or ebook.
2. Read the Chapter Review of Chapter 3. Note any material you have difficulty remembering from the text.
3. Master the key terms for this chapter by working through the deck of Flashcards.

Connect

1. Explore the Interactive Politics Simulation and the questions that follow.
2. Complete the You Decide Exercise after reading the Policy Debate box in Chapter 3 of your textbook or ebook.
3. Answer the Questions for Discussion and Thought and articulate your own point of view on the chapter's material.
4. Complete the What Government Does Exercises to understand the structure of American government and how it affects your life in a direct way.
5. Complete the Get Involved Exercise to see how you can use what you have learned in this chapter to effect change in politics and policy.
6. Watch the Video Exercises for this chapter and answer the accompanying questions.
7. Mobilize for political action with Mobilize.org!

Links

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