Money and Mandates: The Politics of Intergovernmental Conflict

The federal government's relationship with the states depends in part on the level of federal aid and the number of federal mandates. Environmental policy, with less federal aid and more mandates, differs from education policy and health policy. The volume of intergovernmental litigation is heavier and rhetorical references to intergovernmental partnerships by agency heads are more common in environmental policy. Waivers are more common in education policy and health policy, but that appears to be a function of congressional policies largely barring environmental policy waivers. Federal judges are more supportive of the federal government's position on environmental protection and education than its position on health care. Overall, federal funding and mandates appear to have an impact on state governments, federal bureaucrats, and federal judges.