Federalism as Seen by the U. S. Supreme Court

Federalism is a form of government possessed and utilized by several countries of the world, including the United States of America. When the Constitution of the newly formed United States was framed in 1787 it provided that it and the laws of the United States which shall be made in pursuance thereof, shall be the supreme Law of the Land. Shortly thereafter, by the Tenth Amendment, it was specified that the powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people. Thus the Constitution itself posed for federalism an unanswered question – how much power does the federal government – the United States – have, and how much power remains in the States? The Supreme Court of that country, which initially was the sole tribunal entrusted with its judicial power, over the four centuries during which it has existed wrestled with this seemingly eternal question virtually every day it is in session. It has analyzed, construed and applied the principles of federalism in decisions covering a wide spectrum of specialties.

Professor Maloy, in this work, has referred to 500 of those decisions, dealing with thirty-eight specialties, including, but not limited to desegregation, domestic relations, labor relations and taxation. The cases range from the Court’s first decision –. Georgia v. Brailsford, decided in 1792 – to its last decision, to date – District of Columbia v. Heller, decided June 26, 2008. While the question “how much power does the federal government – the United States – have, and how much power remains in the States?” is not completely answered, as this book reveals, far more is known about American federalism in 2008 than in 1787. American federalism in a vibrant and dynamic country, such as the United States, may never be completely defined, but that is just one of its features which makes it fascinating to legal scholars.

About the author:

Professor Richard H.W. Maloy holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Dartmouth College, a Juris Doctor degree from Columbia Law School, and a Master of Laws degree from the University of Miami. During his 34 years of law practice in Miami, Florida he was an Adjunct Professor of Law at the University of Miami and the author of books on appellate practice, pleadings and bankruptcy. For 25 years he continually updated his 14 volume set of Florida Forms of Practice for the law book publisher, Matthew Bender & Co. He has been on the faculty of St. Thomas University School of Law in Miami since 1991, and is a Professor Emeritus at that school, where he teaches Conflict of Laws and Remedies.