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