The New federalism is a policy theme which became popular in the 1980s and 1990s in the United States that refers to the devolution of power from the federal (central) government to the states. It relies on the Ninth Amendment and Tenth Amendment to provide a constitutional underpinning.
New federalism typically involves the Federal government providing block grants to the states to resolve a social issue. The Federal government then monitors outcomes but provides broad discretion to the states for how the programs are implemented.
Related Legislation
- 1972 - State and Local Fiscal Assistance Act PL 92-512
- 1995 - Unfunded Mandate Reform Act PL 104-4
- 1996 - Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Act PL 104-193
See also