Federalism, the Bush Administration and the Evolution of American Politics

Abstract

“The era of big government is over.” That dramatic pronouncement by Bill Clinton was the catch phrase of his 1996 State of the Union address. Coming in the wake of Ronald Reagan's efforts to devolve power back to state governments, and uttered in the midst of Clinton's battles with an assertive Republican Congress, this proclamation appeared to mark a turning point in the evolution of American federalism