Teaching Ideas for Chapter 3:
Federalism
The Midwest suffered devastating losses when the Mississippi River flooded during the summer of 1993 (and the flood crest reached the highest level ever recorded). Ask your students to discuss what the role of the federal government should be in response to natural disasters. How much responsibility should the states assume? Should the different levels of government react differently than they would in response to the loss of homes or businesses during a financial crisis? Suggest that your class read selections from news magazines from June-August 1993 to prepare for this discussion.
Assign two groups of students to serve as panels to debate the question: Does the American form of federalism increase democracy, or does it have a negative effect on democracy?
Hold an in-class discussion on the following: How would politics and policies be different in America if there were a unitary system instead of a federal system? Or a confederation instead of a federal system?
Ask students to study the budgets of the local school system, university or city to determine the various proportions of revenue that the federal, state and local governments contribute. Would the school district, University or city benefit from a change in how it is funded?