Federalism
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Federalism
American voters need to understand the principals of federalism because it affects the lives of everyone. Federalism is the sharing of power between the states and the national government. In recent years, people seem less concerned with federalism because they feel as though what happens on Capitol Hill does not have any impact on their lives. This feeling of dissatisfaction with the nation's capital has sparked new interest in federalism. In reality, the relationship that states share with the national government affects many aspects of people's lives. Recently, there has been more emphasis on allotting additional authority for states on public policies issues, including welfare, education, and the environment.
Former President Bill Clinton set out to change welfare programs across the nation. He proposed the Personal Responsibility and Work Act. This law stopped the guaranteed direct cash assistance to low income families with children and gave states the power to construct their own welfare systems. According to the Up Close Foundation, in April 1997, "President Clinton said that, 'much of the work [of America] cannot be done by government alone...