Final answer:
In the late 1980s, Supreme Court decisions began to limit the federal government's power and give more authority to the states.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the late 1980s, Supreme Court decisions began to change the Court's traditional position on federalism by limiting the scope of the national government's power. For example, in the case of United States v. Lopez, the Court struck down the Gun-Free School Zones Act of 1990, arguing that it did not substantially affect interstate commerce.
This marked a shift away from the Court's previous broad interpretation of the commerce clause. The Court's decisions in the late 1980s signaled a movement towards giving more power to the states and limiting the federal government's authority.