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Federalism

176 resources created by 139 users

This Federalism page on GoConqr gathers community-made mind maps, quizzes, flashcards and notes on how power is shared between national and state governments in the United States. It's built for school students going over a topic, university students and professional candidates filling gaps, and teachers after ready-made material. There are over 170 resources here, including more than 100 mind maps and over 20 quizzes, with some tied to AP US Government and A-level Politics. Open a mind map, try a quiz to find your gaps, then build your own.

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Top Federalism resources

Quizzes

See all 21 quizzes

Mind maps

See all 104 mind maps

Flashcards

See all 42 flashcards

Flowcharts

Notes

Topics in Federalism

Types of federalism7Federalism in the United States33Constitutional foundations of federalism5Division of powers11History and evolution of US federalism7Federal-state relations and grants6Federalism in India8

More Political science topics

US Government and Politics: OverviewPolitical IdeologiesIntroduction to International Relations and Global PoliticsUS Founding and the ConstitutionForms of Government and Political SystemsDemocracyUK Politics: OverviewIntroduction to Politics, Political Science and CitizenshipInternational Relations TheoryCongress and the Legislative BranchInternational Organisations and Global GovernancePolitical Participation and Voting BehaviourThe European Union and European IntegrationInternational Security, Conflict and Terrorism

About Federalism

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What this page covers

This unit sits in the US Government and Politics strand of Political science. The resources look at federalism from several angles: how the Constitution split power, how the balance has shifted, and what the system means for citizens. Most are mind maps, with quizzes, flashcard decks and a few notes alongside them.

Where to start

Begin with the first mind map titled Federalism. Its branches cover split powers, the Bill of Rights, conflict, changes over time and core beliefs, and it contrasts federal systems with unitary ones. Then read the note titled Federalism, which explains why the framers wanted an effective government while protecting the states from being dominated.

Next, try Advantages and Disadvantages of Federalism. It weighs the diversity of individual states against the risk of inequality and conflict between levels of government.

Using quizzes and maps together

Quizzes are good for finding gaps. Here is one way to work:

  1. Read a mind map and say each branch aloud in your own words.
  2. Take the quiz titled 1-20Ch3, which asks why the writers of the Constitution chose a federal system.
  3. Take the quiz titled 21-39Ch3, which covers the growth of national authority and programs where national, state and local policymakers collaborate.
  4. Return to the map for any question you missed.

Flashcards for key terms

The deck called Chapter 3 Flashcards lists terms such as the Supremacy Clause, the Tenth Amendment, McCulloch vs. Maryland, enumerated powers, implied powers and the Elastic Clause. These terms come up again and again in the maps and quizzes, so they are worth knowing early.

Going further

Some resources look at change over time, including how the national government has increased its power over the states and how states have increased theirs. Others cover forms of federal grants and the response to Hurricane Katrina. Many were made for AP Government courses, and university students will find course-style exam reviews too.

Pick one mind map today, then see how much of it you can recall without looking.

Frequently asked questions

Which resource should I open first?

Start with the first mind map titled Federalism. It gives an overview of split powers, the Bill of Rights, conflict, changes over time and core beliefs, and it sets federal systems against unitary ones. After that, the note titled Federalism adds the reasoning of the framers in more detail.

What do the mind maps on this page cover?

There are over 100 mind maps. They cover the elements of federalism, advantages and disadvantages, forms of federal grants, horizontal federalism and how the balance between nation and states has changed over time. Some also look at the wider structure of American government.

Which exams do these resources suit?

Several resources mention AP Government and AP US Government, so they suit school students preparing for those courses. Others mention A-level Politics. University students will also find material, including a review for a university politics exam, and teachers can use the maps and quizzes as ready-made material.

Are the resources free to use?

Yes. Every resource listed here is free to open, study and take, with no account needed. They were made by GoConqr users, not by GoConqr itself. If you want to save quiz scores or make your own quizzes, mind maps, flashcards and notes, a free account lets you do that.

Which quizzes test the main ideas?

The quizzes titled 1-20Ch3 and 21-39Ch3 are a good pair. The first asks why the Constitution's writers chose a federal system and how federalism is viewed historically. The second asks about the growth of national authority and shared public policy programs.

What if the topic I need is not here?

Look through the other mind maps, flashcard decks and notes, since many use different titles for similar ideas, such as power sharing or changing federal-state relationships. You can also build your own resource on the missing topic and use it alongside the community-made material.

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