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1950s
| '55
| The release of the Report of the Commission on Intergovernmental Relations, a comprehensive examination of the workings of the federal system.
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| '55
| The House Committee on Government Operations initiates a series of hearings and studies on intergovernmental relations.
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| '57
| President Eisenhower addresses the National Governors' Conference proposing the shift of some functions and tax sources to the states. His proposal fails to gain support.
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| '59
| The Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations is created. Its purpose is to monitor the operation of the American federal system and to recommend improvements.
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| 1950s. . . 1960s. . . 1970s. . . 1980s. . . 1990s . . .
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| 1960s
| '60
| The release of the Report of the Joint Federal-State Action Committee, a study that addresses the promise and problems of devolution.
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| '65
| State governments begin a process of modernization and reform. This marks the beginning of the increase in state government capacity.
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| '68
| Election of Richard Nixon to the presidency.
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| '69
| President Nixon calls for a "new federalism," one that would empower state governments.
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| 1950s. . . 1960s. . . 1970s. . . 1980s. . . 1990s . . .
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| 1970s
| '72
| Passage of General Revenue Sharing (GRS) legislation, providing federal funds to states and localities with "no strings attached."
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| '76
| Supreme Court decision in National League of Cities v. Usery reinvigorates the Tenth Amendment.
|
| 1950s. . . 1960s. . . 1970s. . . 1980s. . . 1990s . . .
|
| 1980s
| '80
| GRS (see 1972) terminated for state governments.
|
| '80
| Election of former California governor Ronald Reagan to the presidency.
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| '81
| President Reagan's inaugural address states: "The federal government did not create the states; the states created the federal government."
|
| '81
| Seventy-seven categorical grants consolidated into block grants as part of the Omnibus Budget and Reconciliation Act.
|
| '82
| President Reagan proposes to "turn-back" responsibility for welfare and food stamps to the states in return for federal takeover of the Medicaid program. The proposal is rejected.
|
| '85
| The Supreme Court decision in the Garcia case reverses the earlier ruling in NLC v. Usery (see 1976), weakening states' Tenth Amendment rights.
|
| '86
| GRS (see 1972) terminated for local governments.
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| '87
| President Reagan issues Executive Order 12612, restricting a federal agency's ability to preempt state law.
|
| '88
| The politics of deficit reduction continues to structure debate on new programs in Congress.
|
| '88
| The Supreme Court decision in South Carolina v. Baker reaffirms the Garcia (see 1985)
ruling.
|
| '88
| Election of George Bush to the presidency.
|
| 1950s. . . 1960s. . . 1970s. . . 1980s. . . 1990s . . .
|
| 1990s
| '90
| President Bush reaffirms the Reagan Administration's Executive Order 12612 (see 1987)
|
| '91
| President Bush proposes to "turn-over" a variety of federal programs to the states. The proposal is rejected.
|
| '91
| Passage of the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act which created a block grant and gave states more discretion in surface transportation.
|
| '91
| Key governors call for a reordering of national-state relations. More specifically, they argue for greater discretion in policymaking.
|
| '92
| Publication of Alice Rivlin's book, Reviving the American Dream, which advocates a sorting out of functions between the national and state governments.
|
| '92
| Election of former Arkansas governor Bill Clinton to the presidency.
|
| '93
| President Clinton issues Executive Order 12866 which provides some regulatory relief to states and localities.
|
| '93
| State and local officials organize National Unfunded Mandate Day (see 1995).
|
| '93
| The state of Wisconsin passes a law pledging to withdraw from the federal welfare system within five years.
|
| '93
| President Clinton issues Executive Order 12875 entitled, "Enhancing the Intergovernmental Partnership," requiring federal agencies to streamline the waiver application processes for state and local governments.
|
| '94
| Congressional elections produce a Republican majority in both houses of Congress for the first time since the Eisenhower presidency.
|
| '95
| Republicans in the House of Representatives seek enactment of the "Contract with America" which contains several provisions intended to restore state power vis-a-vis the national government.
|
| '95
| National public opinion polls report that two-thirds of Americans favor giving states and localities more power, at the expense of the national government.
|
| '95
| Passage of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act, making it more difficult to Congress to impose mandates on states and localities (see 1993)
|
| '95
| 140 legislators and governors from 43 states meet in a Federalism Summit, calling for a stronger state role in the federal system
|
| '95
| The Supreme Court decision in U.S. v. Lopez strikes down a federal law that relied on the commerce clause as its foundation.
|
| '96
| Passage of welfare reform, the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act, giving states more discretion in welfare policy and spending
|
| '97
| The Supreme Court decision in Printz v. U.S. invalidates part of the Brady Act that required local law enforcement officials to conduct background checks on purchasers of handguns.
|
| '97
| The U.S. Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations (see 1959) is abolished by Congress.
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| '98
| Gubernatorial candidates campaign on the issue of greater devolution.
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