Slide 1OverviewPolicy DiversityPolicy DiversityPolicy DiversityPolicy DiversityFederalism & DemocracyFederalism & DemocracyFederalism & DemocracyFederalism & DemocracyDrugsDrugsDrugsDrugsDrugsDrugsDrugsMarriageMarriageMarriageMarriageMarriageMarriageMarriageMarriageMarriageMarriageMarriageMarriageOther IssuesOther IssuesOther IssuesReflectionsWrap-upPOLS 206: American National GovernmentMegan K. Dyer September 23, 2014Today:1. Policy diversity•Federalism & democracy2. Federalism case studies•Legalization of marijuana•Gay marriage3. Reflections on FederalismOverviewFederalism Recap:•Both national & state gov’ts have sovereign authority•National power limited•States?Policy DiversitySilence in Constitution on subject of state powerImplies•states have great residual authority•over many policy areasPolicy DiversityClassic state powers:•To make laws for the general welfare of their communities•Aims:•Safety•Health•Morals •e.g. fighting crime, labor regulations, public health, blue lawsPolicy DiversityResult of federalism:•Great legal variation in state policyStates are different  policies are differentPolicy DiversityEffect on democracy•Empowering local majorities•State policy can better reflect interests of local people•e.g. TX – energy, agricultureFederalism & DemocracyEffect on democracy•Danger to minority rights?•Powerful majorities can be dangerous•e.g. Jim Crow lawsFederalism & DemocracyStates as policy innovatorse.g.•Environmental regulation•Child labor laws•Min. wage•Civil rights protections“Laboratories of democracy”?Contentious innovationsFederalism & DemocracyPolicy debates w/ federal angle:•Healthcare•Abortion•Immigration•Drugs•MarriageFederalism & DemocracyFederalizing Crime•Making criminal law is a classic state police power•National gov’t taking a greater handDrugsDrug LawsNational Law: Controlled Substances Act (1970)•What does it do?•DEA (Drug Enforcement Agency) DrugsDrugsStatus of cannabis under national law?State-by-state variation•e.g. Colorado•e.g. California•e.g. TexasDrugsPossession still illegal under nat’l lawBUT national gov’t can’t enforce broadly•Federal priorities•Local cooperation in limboStandoffDrugsDEA Position•Federal law is unchanged •Maintains enforcement prioritiesObama administration•largely ‘wait and see’DrugsPush for legalization has been state-led• Innovation?•“laboratories of democracy”?•Aside: tax revenuesDrugsMarriage•States have different legal definitions of marriage•Surprising variation•“full faith and credit”MarriageMinimum age:•Min. ages w/o requiring other consent•Restrictions on younger couplesMarriageFirst Cousin Marriage: •Legal in 19 States & D.C.•Illegal in 25 states (including TX)•Legal under certain circumstances in othersMarriageProperty in Marriage:Communal Property•i.e. assets divided 50/50•10 states (including TX)Equitable Distribution/Common Law•i.e. name(s) on the deed•All othersMarriageOn the basis of race?•Now unconstitutional•Loving v. Virginia (1967)Marriage(Former) anti-miscegenation laws No laws passed Repealed before 1887 Repealed from 1948 to 1967 Overturned by Loving v. VirginiaMarriageOn the basis of sex?•Contentious contemporary issueMarriageLaws that prohibit marriage based on sex Marriage/similar unions legal Partnerships/ civil unions No prohibition or recognition of same-sex marriage or unions Judicial ruling overturning bans stayed pending appeal “ “ “ out of state recognition Same-sex marriage bannedMarriageLegal Issues at play:Interstate recognition: Full faith & creditFederal benefits: •conditioned upon state recognition of marriage•Can the national gov’t define marriage for itself?MarriageDefense of Marriage Act (DOMA) – 1996Federal def. of marriage•“one man and one woman as husband and wife”•Nat’l law providing a legal definition for federal purposesMarriageU.S. v. Windsor (2013)Overturns:•federal definitionUpholds:•states not required to recognize other state’s same-sex unions•Full faith & credit?•Federal recognition?MarriageMarriage as a rights issue?•No ruling on rights-based questions in Windsor•Many legal issues unsettled!MarriagePolicy variation grab-bag:Healthcare•States attempting to opt out of parts of the Affordable Care Act•Others… experimenting with state healthcare long beforeOther IssuesPolicy variation grab-bag:Abortion•State laws vary greatly regarding:•public funding•timeframe•facilities•attending physician•Restrictive state laws regularly challengedOther IssuesPolicy variation grab-bag:Immigration•Border states v. national immigration policy•e.g. Arizona legislation•Overturned as preempting federal lawOther IssuesUS Federalism reflects•Wariness of one-size fits all national policies•Some public goods have smaller audiencesWhat is truly national?ReflectionsImportance of federalism in U.S.Different levels•For making policy •For citizens & groups to influence policymakersMessy – conflict & even