US federalism
US federalism - paragraph completion
3 paragraphs argue one side. You write the rebuttal and the interim judgement.
How this works. Each pre-written opening argues one side of the theme. Your job is the rebuttal: answer it with the named cases, then end on an interim judgement. Your writing saves on this device.
Paragraph 1 · theme: Federal power grew
Evaluate the view that the balance of US federalism has shifted decisively toward the federal government.
The opening (given) - rebut this
Federal power grew is often used to argue the view. New Federalism (1969-2008): The explicit aim was to hand power back. Dobbs (2022): A national right deleted. Read alone, these make the case look one-sided.
Your task - write the rebuttal
Answer back using the cases that point the other way: New Deal era (1933-68) (A national crisis states could not solve - federal programmes everywhere.); Civil rights era (National standards enforced against resisting states.); Funding coercion (2025) (Conditions on funding used to command state policy.). Finish with an interim judgement that backs your line of argument.
Paragraph 2 · theme: States empowered
Evaluate the view that the balance of US federalism has shifted decisively toward the federal government.
The opening (given) - rebut this
States empowered is often used to argue the view. New Deal era (1933-68): States became implementers of federal designs. Civil rights era: States' rights lost its defining battle. Read alone, these make the case look one-sided.
Your task - write the rebuttal
Answer back using the cases that point the other way: Dobbs (2022) (Fifty answers to the most charged question in American politics.); ACA + NFIB (2010-12) (Medicaid expansion made optional - many states refused.); New Federalism (1969-2008) (Block grants returned discretion to statehouses.). Finish with an interim judgement that backs your line of argument.
Paragraph 3 · theme: Constitution stretched
Evaluate the view that the balance of US federalism has shifted decisively toward the federal government.
The opening (given) - rebut this
Constitution stretched is often used to argue the view. Dobbs (2022): Framed by its authors as un-stretching the text. New Federalism (1969-2008): The era pushed back against the stretching. Read alone, these make the case look one-sided.
Your task - write the rebuttal
Answer back using the cases that point the other way: Funding coercion (2025) (The spending power pushed to its constitutional edge.); ACA + NFIB (2010-12) (Upheld as a tax - the stretching argument in court.); New Deal era (1933-68) (The marble cake replaced the framers' layer cake.). Finish with an interim judgement that backs your line of argument.