The Federalist Papers Lesson Plan

Madison asserts in Federalist Paper #46 that the federal government is more likely to be dependent on state governments than the other way around. Do you believe that this true in the present day? Why or why not?

This is a fairly open question. Students may argue, for example, that neither state governments or the federal government really depend on each other that much in the present day. From the point of view of such students, both governments exist in a fairly mutualistic relationship with the other. More conservatively-minded students may argue, however, that since the early 20th century, the balance has shifted more in favor of the federal government. Such students...