How does the federal government affect the city/local governments?

Answer 1

Hi Trees,

The feds affect local government in numerous ways. The most obvious is Unfunded Mandates. There are currently over 200 Unfunded Mandates that require cities to do any number of things at their own cost. The majority of these federal mandates revolve around compliance issues with the Clean Air and Clean Water Acts, as well as toxic waste management and a host of environmental issues. But the largest one-shot unfunded mandate of them all is the cost cities must bear under the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA).

Under the ADA cities are required to install wheel chair ramps on all public buildings, wheel chair accessible toilets, Curb "Roll-ups" on all city sidealks, access to all public transportation (Busses with forklift ramps for wheelchairs). Oh my, the costs are in the billions.

The feds also have "Crosscutting Requirements" that force city contracts to follow federal guidelines, which means that local contracting must meet federal understanding of all civil rights issues.

The feds also use Crossover Sanctions to get what they would constitutionally be bound from getting. A Crossover Sanction is the tying of aid from the federal government to the city or state doing something that the feds cannot otherwise order (such as lowering the speed limit or raising the drinking age). The feds state that unless their policy objectives are adopted, the city or state will have aid packages cut. The Supreme Court has ruled that this is permissable.

Contrary to what "KX" has stated, the 10th Amendment doesn't apply. Congress can force many things on states via the Interstate Commerce Clause, the Supremacy Clause, and the 14th Amendment Equal Protection Clause.

Hope this helps. Cheers.

Answer 2

The federal government demands tribute from every U.S. citizen, then passes laws that state governments and local municipalities must adhere to - or those local governments get their funding cut off. Our federal government has become obscenely bloated, taking away power from state and local governments and becoming a behemoth on to itself. Remember: the larger any organization, corporation, or government gets, the less manageable it becomes, and the fewer people benefit from it. -RKO- 04/27/07

Answer 3

By using Federal tax receipts to blackmail the local/city government to do whatever they mandate, and by ensuring the local/city government complies with provisions of the US Constitution.

Answer 4

Pretty much like any other mafia group.. force and intimidation.

Actually the above poster is wrong.. the 10 amendment gives the power to the state and the people not the federal government. (well.. if they didn't ignore it.)