ARTICLES There Will Always Be a New Federalism

American federalism is strongly operative and very much alive! Above all, it is opportunistic. It changes over time depending on the relative power and goals of major interests in the society. Currently, federalism has been rediscovered by liberals. This article describes the latest ‘‘New Federalism’ ’ and discusses the values of U.S. federalism at the state and grass roots ’ levels as well as the ways it has changed historically and has served as a force for public sector growth and the accretion of governmental functions and services. There was a time when it was stylish among political scientists to write about the death of federalism. That it will whither away. I want to reassure readers—if for any reason you are worried about this—it won’t happen. There will always be a New Federalism. As an architect of the ‘‘New Federalism’ ’ program of President Richard Nixon’s first term, I am struck by a paradox in domestic policy now that hinges on how our federal sys-tem works. Nixon’s ‘‘New Federalism’ ’ had a decidedly progressive cast, although not many people know about or recall this. A key component was more fiscal aid on a more flexibl