Federalism is a political concept in which a group of members are bound together by covenant with a governing representative head. The term "federalism" is also used to describe a system of government in which sovereignty is constitutionally divided between a central governing authority and constituent political units. Federalism is a system based upon democratic rules and institutions in which the power to govern is shared between national and provincial/state governments, creating what is often called a federation. The term federalist describes several political beliefs around the world. Also, it may refer to the concept of parties; its members or supporters called themselves Federalists.

What did the WRA of 1996 do?

1. Assisted low income families for a maximum of five years

2. Decreased poverty rates

3. Got rid of the older welfare system that provided money as long as they needed it.

“The Americans with Disabilities Act prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities in employment, transportation, public accommodation, communications, and governmental activities.”

It states that disabilities cannot be a basis for denying someone a job or public services. Four different national agencies enforce the ADA: the Department of Labor and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission are in charge of matters dealing with workplace discrimination, the Department of Transportation deals with transit discrimination, the Federal Communications Committee provides adequate telecommunications services to individuals who are hearing or speech‐impaired, and the Department of Justice ensures individuals with disabilities’ right to public services. This reflects the influence of federalism because all of the enforcement is handled by national agencies, and even though some of the actions are carried out by state and local agencies, these are still regulated and enforced by the national government.

 The Tenth Amendment is similar to an earlier provision of the Articles of Confederation: "Each state retains its sovereignty, freedom, and independence, and every power, jurisdiction, and right, which is not by this Confederation expressly delegated to the United States, in Congress assembled." After the Constitution was ratified, South Carolina Representative Thomas Tudor Tucker and Massachusetts Representative Elbridge Gerry separately proposed similar amendments limiting the federal government to powers "expressly" delegated, which would have denied implied powers. James Madison opposed the amendments, stating that "it was impossible to confine a Government to the exercise of express powers; there must necessarily be admitted powers by implication, unless the Constitution descended to recount every minutia." The word "expressly" ultimately did not appear in the Tenth Amendment as ratified, and therefore the Tenth Amendment did not reject the powers implied by the Necessary and Proper Clause.

Sometimes the federal government orders states to do certain things,  such as obeying housing laws or environmental regulations. These demands are  called mandates. An unfunded mandate is one for  which the federal government provides no money. For example, the federal  government has required state and local governments to live up to the  Americans with Disabilities Act without providing money to make buildings  accessible to handicapped people. State governments resent unfunded mandates  because they drain state coffers.

One way for Congress to pass mandates is to impose regulations and  standards on state and local governments. In the past, Congress has forced  state governments to meet certain environmental standards, for example.  Scholars call this practice regulated federalism.

I. The Framers of the United States Constitution

     Creating a Federal System

A. Defining Federalism

B. Select four of the following and explain how each has been used to increase the power of the Federal Government relative to the States.

1. Categorical Grants
2. Federal Mandates
3. Selective Incorporation
4. Welfare Reform Act of 1996
5. Block Grants
6. Tenth Amendment 

Neither the Convention which drafted the Constitution, nor the Congress which sent it to the thirteen states for ratification in the autumn of 1787, gave it a lead caption. To fill this void, the document was most often titled "A frame of Government" when it was printed for the convenience of ratifying conventions and the information of the public. This Frame of Government consisted of a preamble, seven articles and a signed closing endorsement.  The Preamble to the Constitution sets out the origin, scope and purpose of the Constitution. Its origin and authority is in "We, the people of the United States". This echoes the Declaration of Independence. "One people" dissolved their connection with another, and assumed among the powers of the earth, a sovereign nation-state. The scope of the Constitution is twofold. First, "to form a more perfect Union" than had previously existed in the "perpetual Union" of the Articles of Confederation. Second, to "secure the blessings of liberty", which were to be enjoyed by not only the first generation, but for all who came after, "our posterity". It is an itemized social contract of democratic philosophy. It details how the more perfect union was to be carried out between the national government and the people. The people are to be provided justice, civil peace, common defense, those things of a general welfare that they could not provide themselves, and freedom. A government of "liberty and union, now and forever", unfolds when "We" begin and establish this Constitution.

The need for the Constitution grew out of problems with the Articles of Confederation, which established a "firm league of friendship" between the states, and vested most power in a Congress of the Confederation. This power was, however, extremely limited — the central government conducted diplomacy and made war, set weights and measures, and was the final arbiter of disputes between the states. Crucially, it could not raise any funds itself, and was entirely dependent on the states themselves for the money necessary to operate. Each state sent a delegation of between two and seven members to the Congress, and they voted as a bloc with each state getting one vote. But any decision of consequence required a unanimous vote, which led to a government that was paralyzed and ineffectual.

A movement to reform the Articles began, and invitations to attend a convention in Philadelphia to discuss changes to the Articles were sent to the state legislatures in 1787. In May of that year, delegates from 12 of the 13 states convened in Philadelphia to begin the work of redesigning government. The delegates to the Constitutional Convention quickly began work on drafting a new Constitution for the United States.

"The Framers of the Constitution - The U.S. Constitution Online - USConstitution.net." The Framers of the Constitution - The U.S. Constitution Online - USConstitution.net. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Dec. 2014.

"The Constitution of the United States: A Transcription." National Archives and Records Administration. National Archives and Records Administration, n.d. Web. 17 Dec. 2014.