The central purpose of the chapter is to introduce you to some of the complexities of government in the United States caused by the adoption of a federal system, that is, one in which both the national and state governments have powers independent of one another. You should also note how the nature and the effects of U.S. federalism have changed throughout U.S. history and continue to change to this day. After reading and reviewing the material in this chapter, you should be able to do each of the following:

1. Explain the difference between federal and centralized systems of government, and give examples of each.
   
   
2. Show how competing political interests at the Constitutional Convention led to the adoption of a federal system, but one that was not clearly defined.
   
   
3. Outline the ways in which the courts interpreted national and state powers and why the doctrine of dual federalism is still alive.
   
   
4. State why federal grants-in-aid to the states have been politically popular, and cite what have proved to be the pitfalls of such grants.
   
   
5. Distinguish between categorical grants and block grants or general revenue sharing.
   
   
6. Explain why, despite repeated attempts to reverse the trend, categorical grants have continued to grow more rapidly than block grants.
   
   
7. Distinguish between mandates and conditions of aid with respect to federal grant programs to states and localities.
   
   
8. Define devolution and its roots.
   
   
9. Discuss whether or to what extent federal grants to the states have succeeded in creating uniform national policies comparable to those of centralized governments.