US federalism
US federalism - sentence stems
5 point and counter pairs, one per theme. The opening lines that lock a balanced paragraph.
How to use these. Each pair is the opening line for a balanced paragraph - a Point and a Counter on the same theme. Read both halves aloud, then cover one side and recall it. Every body paragraph should carry both before its interim judgement.
Federal power grew
Point - the case for
New Deal era (1933-68) supports this: A national crisis states could not solve - federal programmes everywhere.
Counter - the case against
But New Federalism (1969-2008) cuts the other way: The explicit aim was to hand power back.
States empowered
Point - the case for
Dobbs (2022) supports this: Fifty answers to the most charged question in American politics.
Counter - the case against
But New Deal era (1933-68) cuts the other way: States became implementers of federal designs.
Constitution stretched
Point - the case for
Funding coercion (2025) supports this: The spending power pushed to its constitutional edge.
Counter - the case against
But Dobbs (2022) cuts the other way: Framed by its authors as un-stretching the text.
Money the lever
Point - the case for
New Deal era (1933-68) supports this: Federal grants funded state implementation - the technique was born.
Counter - the case against
But Civil rights era cuts the other way: Force and statute, more than funding.
Settled
Point - the case for
Civil rights era supports this: Formal segregation ended - the rare settled outcome.
Counter - the case against
But New Deal era (1933-68) cuts the other way: Set up every later fight about the size of Washington.