The Federalism Library is an online multimedia collection of articles, books, and podcasts exploring contemporary and classic questions related to federalism. It includes material created by the Center for the Study of Federalism, as well as carefully curated information from prominent writers on federalism.
The states are policy innovators, developing new solutions to many of the most pressing issues facing the country.
A federal district court has ruled that the Trump administration cannot link state compliance with the administration's immigration's policies to federal grants for law…
CSF Fellow Troy Smith recently sat for four interviews about federalism with Matt Todd at The Ranch Podcast. The series covers the fundamentals, evolution, and contemporary…
Martin van Staden examines the state of federalism and devolution at the local level in South Africa. Read more here.
The first ministers of Scotland and Wales have recently asserted to UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham that decisions on local devolution should rest solely with…
The Election Law Blog highlights a portion of Walter Olson's op-ed in the Boston Globe titled, "'We Would Be so Cooked.' Federalism Prevented Trump's Election…
With the mid-term elections in mind, Charles Powell points to federalism as a strength of American democracy but also suggests that, "federalism cannot .…
Glyndwr Cennydd Jones writes that confederal federalism would offer the nations of the United Kingdom a viable way to gain independence by "removing sovereignty…
Zim Nwokora draws on the African experience of plural authority to consider how that authority shapes political parties. Read more here.
Navid Kiassat writes that courts have used "federalism-sensitive arguments in statutory interpretation since the Marshall Court" and that he has recovered this "lost history."…
Donald F. Kettl writes that the Trump administration "has created its own remarkably coherent version of federalism" that will be difficult for Democrats to…
Andrew Jones reports that the Trump administration has linked federal funding for states to whether the states end or loosen state laws intended to curb monopolies…
Josh Wright contends that the federal government, not states, should guide the nation's antitrust reviews. Otherwise, he argues, under the federalism idea that a particular…
Arthur Benz has written Understanding Federal Democracy (Cheltenham, Gloucestershire: Edward Elgar Publishing, 2026). Benz examines the relationship between federalism and democracy from a theoretical and…
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The Center for the Study of Federalism (CSF) is a nonpartisan, interdisciplinary research and education institution dedicated to supporting and advancing scholarship and public understanding of federal theories, principles, institutions, and processes as practical means of organizing power in free societies.
All of the CSF Fellows hold advanced degrees, are affiliated with academic institutions, and are scholarly experts in their fields. For more on each Fellow see CSF Fellows.
Most political and public issues in the United States are influenced to some extent by its federal system. Yet many do not understand that system. The CSF website seeks to foster a better understanding among the general public and scholars of federal governing systems generally and, specifically, of the federal system of government in the United States of America.
The CSF materials are free to use for educational purposes. If published, please acknowledge CSF as the source. If you intend to use these materials for profit, please, contact the Center for the Study of Federalism for permission. Some materials on the website are not owned by CSF and permission to use those materials should be sought with those holding legal title to the material.
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Please direct all questions and comments related to this website, and inquiries about the research and teaching grants and awards, to us here. Remember CSF is a nonpartisan, interdisciplinary research and education institution.
Federalism is American government’s best kept secret. Its influence is pervasive and profound. Though not mentioned in the Constitution, federalism’s meaning and application have been at the center of disputes from 1776 to the Civil War to our current culture wars. We are scholars who focus on federalism, and through this podcast, we explore how federalism, from practice to theory, shapes our politics, policies, culture, society, and daily life.
Federalism’s influence on American government, culture and society is pervasive and profound, yet often unexplored. This short podcast examines single, practical topics to show how federalism’s influence is real and relevant in average citizens’ daily lives.
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