The U.S. federal system and mechanisms of intergovernmental control

Framers of U.S. Constitution Created a Federal System

The United States government intertwines the local government with the national government called federalism . The mission is for the national government to take responsibility for the issues or problems that affect the whole nation . The local government is to address all matters that did not necessitate the national government attention, such as education and road maintenance .

Selective Incorporation

Selective incorporation is a process in which certain provisions of the federal Bill of Rights are being applied to the state of action . President Obama "Race to the Top" is a plan in which funds are allocated via lucrative grants . These states must apply by way of application for the funds, and describe future compliance with education criteria in order for the grant to be supplied to the school . The goal of the " Race to the Top" is to reform public schools across the nation . This is the largest federal grant program for public schools in the nation. This grant will be competitive among each state, by pushing each school system, and student to excel in state testing . The grant will provide allotted money to reward teachers for their excellence in education . The state cannot provide this type of funding, giving the federal government more power to make change throughout the nations public schools .

Federal Mandate

Federal mandate is order from the central government that all state and local government must comply with, such as requiring state and local governments to improve public schools across the nation by providing them with grants and funding. Another example is drinking laws are defined by each state, but the federal government passed a law stating they would not provide monies to any state that did not raise their drinking age to twenty-one years of age .

Welfare Reform Act of 1996

Welfare Reform Act of 1996 was signed into law by President Clinton on August 22, 1996. This law changes how government financial assistance is administered including: changing federal funding to states from an open-ended entitlement to a series of capped block grants allocations; sets time limits on entitlements and cash assistance to welfare recipients; requires more welfare recipients to engage in job programs, and enforces collection of unpaid child support, and denies legal immigrants from collecting SSI and food stamps. The legislative goals of the Welfare Reform Act of 1996 was to reduce dependence, to reduce child poverty, and to reduce illegitimacy and strengthen marriage. This reform has been effective in meeting each of these goals.