New Federalism

states. Although the national government remains extremely important, state governments have regained some power. Richard Nixon began supporting New Federalism during his presidency (1969–1974), and every president since Nixon has continued to support the return of some powers to state and local governments. Although political leaders disagree on the details, most support the general principle of giving power to the states. The Supreme Court has played a New Federalist role by siding with state governments in a number of cases. Perhaps the most well known of these cases is United States v. Lopez (1995), in which the Court ruled that Congress had overstepped its authority in creating gun-free school zones. More controversially, in 2000, the Court struck down parts of the Violence Against Women Act (1994) for much the same reason in United States v. Morrison. In other cases, the court has ruled that state governments cannot be sued for violating rights established by federal law. Overall, the Supreme Court in the 1990s reduced the power of the federal government in important ways, particularly in relation to the commerce clause.

In his plan, Reagan

believed that the national

government should be smaller. They should do

LESS for the people and not more. Decisions such

as welfare, civil rights and education should be left to

the individual states. This plan to switch

responsibility back to the states became known as

NEW FEDERALISM.

This involved the national government making huge

tax cuts and ending government programs.

“Reagonomics”, as his economic plan was