Mandating: Operationalizing Domination

Abstract

The three most notable changes in the mechanics of American federalism in the last twenty years have been the dramatic increase in federal financial aids to state and local governments; the emergence of direct federal grants to local governments, by-passing the states; and the dramatic expansion in mandating activity by the national government. The three changes, in combination, have solidified the dominance of national government over state and local governments. Federal aids to states and localities nearly doubled every five years over the twenty years between 1957 and 1977, increasing more than 16 times in current dollars and 71/2 times in constant dollars; federal aids to states increased over 13 times in current dollars and 6 times in constant dollars.' Direct federal-to-