Trends in Intergovernmental Relations

Abstract

Trends in intergovernmental relations have not been a simple move from "layer cake" to "marble cake." There were many federal-state and federal-state-local rela tionships in the nineteenth century, although it is true that strict construction theories were held by most presidents. The responsibilities between states and localities were never clear-cut. Grants-in-aid have been the major factor in alter ing the situation in the twentieth century. The national gov ernment has also moved into the field of business regulation. The major causes of the change included the pressing nature of federal grants, professionalism, technological factors, and political factors. The grants-in-aid structure has left a num ber of unsolved problems. It does not equalize very effec tively. It probably has not improved state-local personnel ex cept in certain specific fields. It has decreased state and local responsibility and confused state and local budgeting. The future situation is somewhat in doubt. The over-all national government fiscal situation is poorer than that of states and localities. However, there are economists who feel that the national government must continue to spend. Pressure groups are continuing to operate for grants. The effectiveness of the "new conservatism" is open to question. The only technical device for preventing the development of the present politi cally irresponsible grants-in-aid system seems to be the block grant which has been advocated by leaders of both parties but has attained no official status. Political scientists are urged to try to keep the values of state and local government in mind in appraising the grant system.