Final answer:
The balance of power between the federal government and states is central to American federalism, impacting policies like immigration, LGBTQ rights, and environmental regulations. States have traditionally been policy innovators, but face challenges in areas like national security and public health. Fiscal policies like welfare reform have exemplified federal influence over state decisions.
Step-by-step explanation:
There are indeed particular policies on which it is especially important for states to challenge the federal government. The balance of power between the federal government and the states is a foundational element of American federalism, and over time, various issues have seen shifts in where that balance lies.
For example, issues like immigration and marital rights of LGBTQ people have become areas where the distinction between state and federal jurisdiction has blurred, leading to challenges and debates. Historically, states have served as laboratories for policy innovation, a principle famously endorsed by Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis, allowing them to experiment with social and economic reforms.
This tradition continues as states adopt varied approaches to topics such as environmental regulation, health insurance exchanges, and social welfare programs.Among the challenges to federalism in the upcoming decade, areas like national security, electronic privacy, and public health (e.g., responses to pandemics) are likely to prompt discussions about the appropriate level of federal authority.
For instance, the response to COVID-19 with respect to mask mandates and social distancing measures has spotlighted the debate over state versus federal powers during public health emergencies. The implications of federal agencies like the FBI and NSA in their methods of surveillance for national security can also raise questions about personal privacy rights.
In terms of fiscal policy, the federal government often exercises influence over states through mechanisms like the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act, which changed the provision and funding of welfare services, allowing states more discretion but with certain constraints.