This course examines the law and policy of federalism. It will investigate the theory and practice of different approaches to the federal/state balance of power by focusing on concrete policy areas. It will consider questions such as: Which level of government is best suited to legislate and prosecute crime? Should the federal government pass legislation based on morality? To what extent should the states be allowed to regulate the environment? What role does federalism play in the protection of individual rights (such as free speech)? To what extent should people, goods, and services be allowed to move freely from state to state? To what extent does the federal power to tax and spend undermine the federal/state balance of powers? What role should the states play in foreign affairs? What role can and should courts play in enforcing federalism? Does federalism foster or frustrate democratic governance? In examining these questions, the course will place U.S. federalism in comparative perspective. Materials for discussion will be drawn from court decisions, executive and legislative branch materials, legal academic writing, political science scholarship, and news reports.