The Pros And Cons Of Creative Federalism

The Federalist papers played a crucial role in helping to quell the fears of Americans who didn’t want another King George III. In Federalist number 45, James Madison reassures Americans that the federal government was not given too much power, and that if the federal government became too strong or tyrannical, the states would be able to mitigate any effects (Madison 1788). Madison also states that the federal government is necessary for the prosperity of the people (Madison 1788). He claims that the powers of the federal government will not be dangerous to its people, for which he gives a few reasons. First of all, Madison argues that the federal government’s powers are few and specific, whereas the state powers are broad and unlimited.
The powers delegated by the proposed Constitution to the federal government, are few and defined…. The powers reserved to the several States will extend to all the objects which, in the ordinary course of …show more content…
Creative Federalism continued the expansion of federal aid which was centered on public works. Creative Federalism was caused by President Johnson’s Great Society Programs, which included Medicaid, Medicare, and VISTA. His programs were focused on the general public; to address issues such as poverty, voting rights, and social security. (Moore 2016) The biggest force of Creative Federalism was the Voting Rights Act of 1964, which prohibited discrimination in public places or, as well as literacy tests for voter registration. The enforcement of the act came with once caveat; government discrimination results in the loss of grant money. (Moore 2016) While the act was not imposed upon the states, they had the threat of less funding that forced them to obey the law. This era of federalism further supports the slow dissolution of the separate spheres of state and national government; as the national government began to involve itself in state duties, it became less likely to