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Blue = state, Red = federal
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Articles of Confederation
First Constitution of the US. Under this document, states remained sovereign and independent, while the federal government has only a few limited powers. State power was supreme. -
Constitutional Convention
55 delegates from the several states met to frame a Constitution for a federal republic that would replace the Articles of Confederation. The federal power was broadened in order to improve the previous system. States still had sovereignty for the most part, but some powers were limited, like the superiority over commerce. -
10th Amendment
Any power not delegated to the national government by the Constitution is reserved to the States. This increases state power because it makes a boundary on federal government's power. -
McCulloch v. Maryland
Important Supreme Court case where they ruled that the federal government had the power to establish a national bank. This increased their power through the "necessary and proper" clause. -
Gibbons v. Ogden
A Supreme Court case where Gibbons -- a steamboat owner who did business between New York and New Jersey under a federal coastal license -- challenged the monopoly license granted by New York to Ogden. They ruled that it was a federal power to regulate interstate commerce and therefore, the NY law was overruled. This increased federal government power because it gave them control over interstate commerce. -
Civil War
War fought over the division of slave states and free states. The North won, keeping the United States together as one nation and increasing federal power because slavery was made illegal, whether the southern states like it or not. -
14th Amendment
Anyone born in the US is a citizen. This limits state power because it forbids them from taking away this privilege, depriving them from life, liberty, and property, or denying them equal protection. -
Sherman Anti-Trust Act
The first federal act that prohibited monopolies and trusts. It is an increase in federal power because it shows their direct involvement in commerce. -
Plessy v. Ferguson
Supreme Court trial where they upheld the "separate but equal" clause that allowed segregation. This increased state power because they were able to have segregation without federal government interference. -
Pure Food and Drug Act
The first consumer protection law that prevented mislabeled or unsanitary food. Increased power for the federal government because they became more involved in foreign and interstate commerce. -
16th Amendment
Allows Congress the right to impose a Federal Income Tax. It increased federal power because it allowed a tax on income without apportionment among the states. -
Gitlow v. New York
Gitlow was convicted of encouraging the violent overthrow of the government, but the US Supreme Court ruled that the protection of free speech extended over states too, decreasing their power. This is called "selective incorporation", which means New York can not make laws that take away rights from the Constitution. -
The New Deal
The New Deal was a series of federal programs FDR initiated to combat the Great Depression. It increased federal power since the government "came to the rescue", which the states were not capable of doing. -
Brown v. Board of Education
Important Supreme Court decisions that declared segregation in public schools unconstitutional. This was an increase in federal power because it abolished the rights of the states to have separate schools for blacks and whites. -
Civil Rights Act of 1964
Outlawed discrimination based on race, gender, national origin, or religion. It increased federal powers by taking it away from states. -
Social Security Act of 1965
Signed by Lyndon Johnson and established Medicare (health insurance for the old) and Medicaid (health insurance for the poor). This shows an increase in federal power because it is a mandatory pay roll deduction enforced by the national government, not state. -
Election of Ronald Reagan
When Reagan was in office, there was a gradual increase in power being given back to the states. Also called his "Devolution Revolution" His efforts to cut taxes and take away "Washington's influence" took power away from the federal government. -
Americans with Disabilities Act
Prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities. This increases federal power because it applies to anyone in the workforce, regardless of what states say. -
United States v. Lopez
Supreme Court case that decided forbidding people from carrying a gun in school is unconstitutional. This decreased the extent of federal power because the law has nothing to do with "commerce" and therefore is not under their control. -
104th Congress
Legislative meeting between the House of Representatives and the Senate where the federal aid program "Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC)" was block-granted. This caused devolution (transferring power to the state level) by encouraging states to develop their own welfare reforms, like providing employment searching assistance instead of public aid. -
Printz v. United States
A Supreme Court case that ruled local chief law enforcement officers are not required to perform background checks on handgun purchasers. This increased state power because it does not make states enforce federal tasks for them. -
No Child Left Behind
Act passed by Congress and signed by George Bush that updated Elementary and Secondary Education in order to be more nationally competitive. This ended up being an increase in federal government because it made its role in schools systems more present. -
Development of the Department of Homeland Security
After the 9/11 attacks, this department was created to combat terrorism and defend US borders. It shows an increase in federal power because it was created by the federal government and brings up the controversy of if it violates civil liberties. -
Affordable Care Act
A law signed by Obama that provides tax credits to those with an income 100% and 400% of the poverty level. By extending Medicaid to numerous people, it also expands the power of the federal government. -
Colorado Amendment #64
Law passed that allows recreational marijuana use for people 21 and over. It increases state power because it was a state decision that made it legal, even though it is still illegal under federal law.
