Question

Considering the Constitutional principle of federalism, explain the state’s potential stance for rejecting each of the three federal policies or proposals below. Clarify the rationale behind the federal government mandates.

Federal requirements that states offer free tuition for all community colleges with federal funding covering part of the costs

Answer 1

The constitutional principle of federalism

Federalism is the concept that powers are distributed between the state government and the federal government. Both have their own individual powers. This means that even of the amendments to the constitution are proposed by the Congress, they have to be approved by the legislatures or conventions holding three fourth of the union.

Federal policy: Federal requirements that states offer free tuition for all community colleges with federal funding covering part of the cost

State's potential stance at rejecting:

1. Funding is the primary stance - What part of the costs shall be covered by the federal government? Will this part at a later date be a federal government mandate too? This will lead to the state government handling the policy single-handedly and could become an unfunded policy.
2. The basis on which the federal funding can be received by the state government - This is the second stand. Whether or not funding is subject to terms and conditions and what are these terms and conditions. Depending upon further policy related nuances state could reject the policy.
3. Feasibility - The feasibility of the policy being implemented and a thorough plan as to when an outcome can be expected. What are the outcomes? The targets and whether or not they are realistic shall determine the state's involvement to accept the policy's implementation.
4. The loss to the state - Free tuition for all would mean more highly skilled teachers and longer hours to be put in, this would mean better payout to the teaching faculty. If this leads to an economic loss to the state, how will it be covered until there is a tangible benefit from the implementation of the policy? If the Federal government does not cover the losses, the state will reject it.

The answers to the above points primarily determine the rejection of the federal policy that states offer free tuition for all community colleges with federal funding covering part of the costs

The rationale behind Federal Government Mandates

A Federal Government Mandate is when the Federal government directs the states or public agencies to perform functions when there are no sufficient funds with the federal government to do so. This usually leads lesser allocation to other important tasks that states have to do in order to accommodate the federal mandate. These are issues directly affecting the state's development. It has been criticized for burdening the state governments. The rationale is that federal governments have used the aid for an existing policy or do not have the additional fund to allocate to the state as part of the federal policy.