The Evolution of American Federalism
Survey the course of American federalism from the framing of the Constitution to present-day debates in the Supreme Court and Congress.
Overview Course No. 30670
“Federalism” refers to the balance of power between federal and state governments. It asks: Where does state power end and federal power begin? How should national government influence local lives? Over 250 years, this balance has shifted back and forth, affecting major political issues. The Evolution of American Federalism explores these dynamics through 24 lectures by Professor Joseph L. Hoffmann, tracing its history from the founding of the nation to significant debates and consequences in political theory.
Video Lectures
01: Federalism: America’s Great Innovation
Begin with the 2000 presidential election dispute and explore the historical and philosophical foundations of federalism.
- Duration: 31 min
02: How Federalism Shapes American Politics
Trace the rise of the two-party system through phases like Jacksonian Democracy and party realignment during the Civil Rights Era.
- Duration: 29 min
03: States Can’t Nullify Federal Law
Examine the Supremacy Clause and clashes over federal and state law interpretations from the Alien and Sedition Acts to Brown v. Board of Education.
- Duration: 31 min
04: The Federal Government Can Tax and Spend
Learn about the power of taxing and spending within federal authority and its implications for state policies and economic strategy.
- Duration: 29 min
05: Guns, the Military, and Foreign Affairs
Explore the balance of national defense within federalism, including implications for military operations and gun rights.
- Duration: 29 min
06: Borders, Immigration, and Citizenship
Delve into the challenges of immigration laws and citizenship, tracing issues back to the 18th century.
- Duration: 31 min
07: Commerce Clause: A Source of Federal Power
Understand the Commerce Clause’s role in expanding federal authority during the New Deal and beyond.
- Duration: 30 min
08: Commerce Clause: A Limit on State Power
Look at how state authority impacts interstate commerce and regulations from environment to sales taxes.
- Duration: 29 min
09: How Federal Citizenship Emerged
Examine the impact of the Civil War and the 14th Amendment on federal citizenship and civil rights progress.
- Duration: 29 min
10: Equal Protection’s Failed Promise
Analyze pivotal moments highlighting the gap between constitutional promises and social realities post-Civil War.
- Duration: 30 min
11: Prohibiting Private Discrimination
Explore the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and its impact on combating private discrimination and religious freedom.
- Duration: 30 min
12: Due Process Transforms Federalism
Study the implications of the Due Process Clause for state criminal procedures and individual rights.
- Duration: 29 min
13: Habeas Corpus Helps Enforce Federal Law
Understand habeas corpus’s role in protecting against unlawful detention and its modern legal status.
- Duration: 31 min
14: Sex, Marriage, and Reproductive Rights
Explore the broad implications of the Due Process Clause on privacy, marriage, and reproductive rights.
- Duration: 31 min
15: Alcohol and Drug Regulation
Learn about the complex regulation of controlled substances and the tension between state and federal law.
- Duration: 33 min
16: Public Health and Homeland Security
Examine federalism’s response to crises, balancing freedom with public health and security in modern times.
- Duration: 32 min
17: Environmental Protection
Discuss the tension in environmental regulation and the role of federal waivers in shaping policy.
- Duration: 32 min
18: Voting Rights
Understand the federal oversight of elections and the evolution of voting rights from Reconstruction to today.
- Duration: 32 min
19: One Person, One Vote
Review gerrymandering and representation issues in light of the Supreme Court case Reynolds v. Sims.
- Duration: 33 min
20: Equal Rights for Women
Explore the struggle for women’s rights and state-level constitutional protections advancing equal rights.
- Duration: 33 min
21: Native American Rights
Study the unique legal status of Native American tribes and efforts to rectify historical injustices.
- Duration: 33 min
22: Congress Can Preempt State Law
Investigate the Preemption Doctrine and the balance of authority in areas like immigration and consumer protection.
- Duration: 32 min
23: Residual State Powers and the Tenth Amendment
Analyze the 10th Amendment’s role in preserving state powers amid federal mandates.
- Duration: 32 min
24: Aggressive Federalism: The Battle Continues
Discover how states and local governments navigate and sometimes oppose federal laws using innovative strategies.
- Duration: 35 min

