Understanding federalism is central to the study of democratic government in the United States. This book examines the historical and philosophical underpinnings of federalism; and the ways in which institutional political power is both diffused and concentrated in the United States.

Understanding federalism - the form of political organization that unites separate polities within an overarching political system so that all maintain their political integrity - is central to the study of democratic government in the United States. Yet, many political scientists treat federalism as a set of abstract principles or a maze of budgetary transfers with little connection to real political life. This concise and engaging book boils the discussion down to its essence: federalism is about power, specifically the tug for power among and within the various levels of government. Author Larry N. Gerston examines the historical and philosophical underpinnings of federalism; the various "change events" that have been involved in defining America's unique set of federal principles over time; and the vertical, horizontal, and international dimensions of federalism in the United States today. The result is a book examining the ways in which institutional political power is both diffused and concentrated in the United States.

Part I. Creating a New Nation
1. The Great Political Experiment
Defining Federalism and Organized Power in the "First New Nation"
* Endless Nuances
* The Four Characteristics of Federalism
* Fluidity and Continuity
* Follow the Bouncing Ball - The Uncertainties of Federalism
* Outcomes of Federalism
* Looking Ahead
2. Reordering the Rules on Power and Governance
Questioning the Traditional Rules on Power and Governance
* New Theories and the Old Regime: Sowing the Seeds of Change
* The Articles of Confederation - First Effort at Self-Governance
* The Constitutional Convention - Second Effort at Self-Governance
* From the Past to the Present
Part II. Organizing a Federal System of Government
3. The Appeal of Tradition
Tradition: The Conservative Ethic in America
* To Trust or Not to Trust the People - Conflicting Themes
* The Constitution: Assigned Powers and Early Interpretations
* Pitting Liberty Against Equality?
* Tradition, Yes, But What Tradition?
4. Institutional Change Agents: Political Wellsprings
The Courts as Change Agents
* The President as a Change Agent
* Congress as a Change Agent
* National Institutions on the March
5. Informal Pressures on the Power Flow
Political Parties
* Interest Groups
* Bureaucracy: Pushing From the Periphery of Power
* Public Opinion
* Informal Pressures: Ambiguous but Real
Part III. The Dimensions of Modern Federalism
6. Vertical Federalism
National/State Relations
* National/Local Federalism
* State/Local Relations
* National/Private Sector Relations
* Vertical Federalism in Perspective
7. Horizontal Federalism: Arrangements Among the States
State Political Cultures in the Federal Framework
* Public Opinion and Policy Differences
* State-to-State Competition
* Regional Cooperation
* Horizontal Federalism in the Twenty-first Century
8. The International Dimension of Federalism
The Many Faces of Globalization
* Immigration
* Security
* International Dimensions in a Domestic Context
Part IV. Continuity and Change
9. Explaining Federalism in the Twenty-first Century
Problem-Solving in a Defined Political Structure
* Emerging Themes, New Directions, Unanswered Questions
* The Future of American Federalism.