{ "id": "R40638", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORTS", "number": "R40638", "active": true, "source": "EveryCRSReport.com, University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "versions": [ { "source": "EveryCRSReport.com", "id": 598754, "date": "2019-05-22", "retrieved": "2019-05-24T22:16:31.187476", "title": "Federal Grants to State and Local Governments: A Historical Perspective on Contemporary Issues", "summary": "The federal government is expected to provide state and local governments about $750 billion in federal grants in FY2019, funding a wide range of public policies, such as health care, transportation, income security, education, job training, social services, community development, and environmental protection. Federal grants account for about one-third of total state government funding, and more than half of state government funding for health care and public assistance.\nCongressional interest in federal grants to state and local governments has always been high given the central role Congress has in determining the scope and nature of the federal grant-in-aid system, the amount of funding involved, and disagreements over the appropriate role of the federal government in domestic policy generally and in its relationship with state and local governments.\nFederalism scholars agree that congressional decisions concerning the scope and nature of the federal grants-in-aid system are influenced by both internal and external factors. Internal factors include congressional party leadership and congressional procedures; the decentralized nature of the committee system; the backgrounds, personalities, and ideological preferences of individual Members; and the customs and traditions (norms) that govern congressional behavior. Major external factors include input provided by voter constituencies, organized interest groups, the President, and executive branch officials. Although not directly involved in the legislative process, the Supreme Court, through its rulings on federalism issues, also influences congressional decisions concerning the federal grants-in-aid system.\nOverarching all of these factors is the evolving nature of cultural norms and expectations concerning government\u2019s role in American society. Over time, the American public has become increasingly accepting of government activism in domestic affairs generally, and of federal government intervention in particular. Federalism scholars attribute this increased acceptance of, and sometimes demand for, government action as a reaction to the industrialization and urbanization of American society; technological innovations in communications, which have raised awareness of societal problems; and exponential growth in economic interdependencies brought about by an increasingly global economy.\nThis report provides a historical synopsis of the evolving nature of the federal grants-in-aid system, focusing on the role Congress has played in defining the system\u2019s scope and nature. It begins with an overview of the contemporary federal grants-in-aid system and then examines its evolution over time, focusing on the internal and external factors that have influenced congressional decisions concerning the system\u2019s development. It concludes with an assessment of the scope and nature of the contemporary federal grants-in-aid system and raises several issues for congressional consideration, including possible ways to augment congressional capacity to provide effective oversight of this system.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORTS", "active": true, "formats": [ { "format": "HTML", "encoding": "utf-8", "url": "https://www.crs.gov/Reports/R40638", "sha1": "29e719cc265f4663ca780b579da34f408c721ab5", "filename": "files/20190522_R40638_29e719cc265f4663ca780b579da34f408c721ab5.html", "images": { "/products/Getimages/?directory=R/html/R40638_files&id=/0.png": "files/20190522_R40638_images_d86e2f5b03bf47fdf0c643fc527a88a8c36f8af9.png" } }, { "format": "PDF", "encoding": null, "url": "https://www.crs.gov/Reports/pdf/R40638", "sha1": "54ce1fb3b45c52f5f69e0a288710eb02cbb0c57e", "filename": "files/20190522_R40638_54ce1fb3b45c52f5f69e0a288710eb02cbb0c57e.pdf", "images": {} } ], "topics": [ { "source": "IBCList", "id": 4862, "name": "Federalism" } ] }, { "source": "EveryCRSReport.com", "id": 584892, "date": "2018-05-07", "retrieved": "2019-04-18T14:28:31.560813", "title": "Federal Grants to State and Local Governments: A Historical Perspective on Contemporary Issues", "summary": "The federal government is expected to provide state and local governments about $728 billion in federal grants in FY2018, funding a wide range of public policies, such as health care, transportation, income security, education, job training, social services, community development, and environmental protection. Federal grants account for about one-third of total state government funding, and more than half of state government funding for health care and public assistance.\nCongressional interest in federal grants to state and local governments has always been high given the central role Congress has in determining the scope and nature of the federal grant-in-aid system, the amount of funding involved, and disagreements over the appropriate role of the federal government in domestic policy generally and in its relationship with state and local governments.\nFederalism scholars agree that congressional decisions concerning the scope and nature of the federal grants-in-aid system are influenced by both internal and external factors. Internal factors include congressional party leadership and congressional procedures; the decentralized nature of the committee system; the backgrounds, personalities, and ideological preferences of individual Members; and the customs and traditions (norms) that govern congressional behavior. Major external factors include input provided by voter constituencies, organized interest groups, the President, and executive branch officials. Although not directly involved in the legislative process, the Supreme Court, through its rulings on federalism issues, also influences congressional decisions concerning the federal grants-in-aid system.\nOverarching all of these factors is the evolving nature of cultural norms and expectations concerning government\u2019s role in American society. Over time, the American public has become increasingly accepting of government activism in domestic affairs generally, and of federal government activism in particular. Federalism scholars attribute this increased acceptance of, and sometimes demand for, government action as a reaction to the industrialization and urbanization of American society; technological innovations in communications, which have raised awareness of societal problems; and exponential growth in economic interdependencies brought about by an increasingly global economy.\nThis report provides a historical synopsis of the evolving nature of the federal grants-in-aid system, focusing on the role Congress has played in defining the system\u2019s scope and nature. It begins with an overview of the contemporary federal grants-in-aid system and then examines its evolution over time, focusing on the internal and external factors that have influenced congressional decisions concerning the system\u2019s development. It concludes with an assessment of the scope and nature of the contemporary federal grants-in-aid system and raises several issues for congressional consideration, including possible ways to augment congressional capacity to provide effective oversight of this system.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORTS", "active": true, "formats": [ { "format": "HTML", "encoding": "utf-8", "url": "https://www.crs.gov/Reports/R40638", "sha1": "4b4f85e2d35fec282fffa96204fca916ada54daf", "filename": "files/20180507_R40638_4b4f85e2d35fec282fffa96204fca916ada54daf.html", "images": { "/products/Getimages/?directory=R/html/R40638_files&id=/0.png": "files/20180507_R40638_images_bf95c6eb27e84f70c5ab3385e23ee0d42b086a35.png" } }, { "format": "PDF", "encoding": null, "url": "https://www.crs.gov/Reports/pdf/R40638", "sha1": "7195330a78c2d14ca872290a149d1128ac88175c", "filename": "files/20180507_R40638_7195330a78c2d14ca872290a149d1128ac88175c.pdf", "images": {} } ], "topics": [ { "source": "IBCList", "id": 4862, "name": "Federalism" } ] }, { "source": "EveryCRSReport.com", "id": 462229, "date": "2017-06-22", "retrieved": "2017-08-22T14:12:32.322456", "title": "Federal Grants to State and Local Governments: A Historical Perspective on Contemporary Issues", "summary": "The federal government is expected to provide state and local governments more than $703 billion in federal grants in FY2018, funding a wide range of public policies, such as health care, transportation, income security, education, job training, social services, community development, and environmental protection. Federal grants account for about one-third of total state government funding, and more than half of state government funding for health care and public assistance.\nCongressional interest in federal grants to state and local governments has always been high given the central role Congress has in determining the scope and nature of the federal grant-in-aid system, the amount of funding involved, and disagreements over the appropriate role of the federal government in domestic policy generally and in its relationship with state and local governments.\nFederalism scholars agree that congressional decisions concerning the scope and nature of the federal grants-in-aid system are influenced by both internal and external factors. Internal factors include congressional party leadership and congressional procedures; the decentralized nature of the committee system; the backgrounds, personalities, and ideological preferences of individual Members; and the customs and traditions (norms) that govern congressional behavior. Major external factors include input provided by voter constituencies, organized interest groups, the President, and executive branch officials. Although not directly involved in the legislative process, the Supreme Court, through its rulings on federalism issues, also influences congressional decisions concerning the federal grants-in-aid system.\nOverarching all of these factors is the evolving nature of cultural norms and expectations concerning government\u2019s role in American society. Over time, the American public has become increasingly accepting of government activism in domestic affairs generally, and of federal government activism in particular. Federalism scholars attribute this increased acceptance of, and sometimes demand for, government action as a reaction to the industrialization and urbanization of American society; technological innovations in communications, which have raised awareness of societal problems; and exponential growth in economic interdependencies brought about by an increasingly global economy.\nThis report provides a historical synopsis of the evolving nature of the federal grants-in-aid system, focusing on the role Congress has played in defining the system\u2019s scope and nature. It begins with an overview of the contemporary federal grants-in-aid system and then examines its evolution over time, focusing on the internal and external factors that have influenced congressional decisions concerning the system\u2019s development. It concludes with an assessment of the scope and nature of the contemporary federal grants-in-aid system and raises several issues for congressional consideration, including possible ways to augment congressional capacity to provide effective oversight of this system.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORTS", "active": true, "formats": [ { "format": "HTML", "encoding": "utf-8", "url": "http://www.crs.gov/Reports/R40638", "sha1": "77824bdf4423f0a70635ed78eb099cb84b144294", "filename": "files/20170622_R40638_77824bdf4423f0a70635ed78eb099cb84b144294.html", "images": { "/products/Getimages/?directory=R/html/R40638_files&id=/0.png": "files/20170622_R40638_images_2cba4b1cdb6e2b663efcc478bf0d4d3d0668f72f.png" } }, { "format": "PDF", "encoding": null, "url": "http://www.crs.gov/Reports/pdf/R40638", "sha1": "bd66405cd20f06a483ee046465b99b83614ed2dd", "filename": "files/20170622_R40638_bd66405cd20f06a483ee046465b99b83614ed2dd.pdf", "images": {} } ], "topics": [ { "source": "IBCList", "id": 4862, "name": "Federalism" } ] }, { "source": "EveryCRSReport.com", "id": 450241, "date": "2016-02-25", "retrieved": "2016-04-06T17:00:39.581819", "title": "Federal Grants to State and Local Governments: A Historical Perspective on Contemporary Issues", "summary": "The federal government is expected to provide state and local governments more than $666 billion in federal grants in FY2016, funding a wide range of public policies, such as health care, transportation, income security, education, job training, social services, community development, and environmental protection. Federal grants account for about one-third of total state government funding, and more than half of state government funding for health care and public assistance.\nCongressional interest in federal grants to state and local governments has always been high given the central role Congress has in determining the scope and nature of the federal grant-in-aid system, the amount of funding involved, and disagreements over the appropriate role of the federal government in domestic policy generally and in its relationship with state and local governments.\nFederalism scholars agree that congressional decisions concerning the scope and nature of the federal grants-in-aid system are influenced by both internal and external factors. Internal factors include congressional party leadership and congressional procedures; the decentralized nature of the committee system; the backgrounds, personalities, and ideological preferences of individual Members; and the customs and traditions (norms) that govern congressional behavior. Major external factors include input provided by voter constituencies, organized interest groups, the President, and executive branch officials. Although not directly involved in the legislative process, the Supreme Court, through its rulings on federalism issues, also influences congressional decisions concerning the federal grants-in-aid system.\nOverarching all of these factors is the evolving nature of cultural norms and expectations concerning government\u2019s role in American society. Over time, the American public has become increasingly accepting of government activism in domestic affairs generally, and of federal government activism in particular. Federalism scholars attribute this increased acceptance of, and sometimes demand for, government action as a reaction to the industrialization and urbanization of American society; technological innovations in communications, which have raised awareness of societal problems; and exponential growth in economic interdependencies brought about by an increasingly global economy.\nThis report provides a historical synopsis of the evolving nature of the federal grants-in-aid system, focusing on the role Congress has played in defining the system\u2019s scope and nature. It begins with an overview of the contemporary federal grants-in-aid system and then examines its evolution over time, focusing on the internal and external factors that have influenced congressional decisions concerning the system\u2019s development. It concludes with an assessment of the scope and nature of the contemporary federal grants-in-aid system and raises several issues for congressional consideration, including possible ways to augment congressional capacity to provide effective oversight of this system.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORTS", "active": true, "formats": [ { "format": "HTML", "encoding": "utf-8", "url": "http://www.crs.gov/Reports/R40638", "sha1": "3e49c96615997c7edb20f8e5507ac15d99289efb", "filename": "files/20160225_R40638_3e49c96615997c7edb20f8e5507ac15d99289efb.html", "images": null }, { "format": "PDF", "encoding": null, "url": "http://www.crs.gov/Reports/pdf/R40638", "sha1": "719f90274a26f026f87da57d23fbd227fe78716c", "filename": "files/20160225_R40638_719f90274a26f026f87da57d23fbd227fe78716c.pdf", "images": null } ], "topics": [ { "source": "IBCList", "id": 2164, "name": "Federalism" } ] }, { "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc503336/", "id": "R40638_2015Mar05", "date": "2015-03-05", "retrieved": "2015-04-30T17:37:21", "title": "Federal Grants to State and Local Governments: A Historical Perspective on Contemporary Issues", "summary": "This report provides a historical synopsis of the evolving nature of the federal grants-in-aid system, focusing on the role Congress has played in defining the system's scope and nature.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORT", "active": false, "formats": [ { "format": "PDF", "filename": "files/20150305_R40638_a139300e54d5f03fe44a3b7d1802e026dce289de.pdf" }, { "format": "HTML", "filename": "files/20150305_R40638_a139300e54d5f03fe44a3b7d1802e026dce289de.html" } ], "topics": [ { "source": "LIV", "id": "Budgets", "name": "Budgets" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Grants-in-aid", "name": "Grants-in-aid" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Congress", "name": "Congress" } ] }, { "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc287944/", "id": "R40638_2014Apr15", "date": "2014-04-15", "retrieved": "2014-06-05T20:55:02", "title": "Federal Grants to State and Local Governments: An Historical Perspective on Contemporary Issues", "summary": "This report provides a historical synopsis of the evolving nature of the federal grants-in-aid system, focusing on the role Congress has played in defining the system's scope and nature. It begins with an overview of the contemporary federal grants-in-aid system and then examines its evolution over time, focusing on the internal and external factors that have influenced congressional decisions concerning the system's development. It concludes with an assessment of the scope and nature of the contemporary federal grants-in-aid system and raises several issues for congressional consideration, including possible ways to augment congressional capacity to provide effective oversight of this system.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORT", "active": false, "formats": [ { "format": "PDF", "filename": "files/20140415_R40638_cf1519b63c9a3dbfe158870ac3f37a2fd242c25d.pdf" }, { "format": "HTML", "filename": "files/20140415_R40638_cf1519b63c9a3dbfe158870ac3f37a2fd242c25d.html" } ], "topics": [ { "source": "LIV", "id": "Federal grants", "name": "Federal grants" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Research grants", "name": "Research grants" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Grants-in-aid", "name": "Grants-in-aid" } ] }, { "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc819862/", "id": "R40638_2010Feb16", "date": "2010-02-16", "retrieved": "2016-03-19T13:57:26", "title": "Federal Grants-In-Aid: An Historical Perspective on Contemporary Issues", "summary": null, "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORT", "active": false, "formats": [ { "format": "PDF", "filename": "files/20100216_R40638_d1c49c0058f30ab599d362e509b93b0ebcbc5e13.pdf" }, { "format": "HTML", "filename": "files/20100216_R40638_d1c49c0058f30ab599d362e509b93b0ebcbc5e13.html" } ], "topics": [] }, { "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc26165/", "id": "R40638_2009Jun15", "date": "2009-06-15", "retrieved": "2010-07-07T17:39:19", "title": "Federal Grants-In-Aid: An Historical Perspective on Contemporary Issues", "summary": "This report provides an historical synopsis of the evolving nature of federal grant-in-aid programs, focusing on the role Congress has played in defining the scope and nature of those programs. It begins with an overview of contemporary federal grant-in-aid programs and then examines their evolution over time, focusing on the internal and external factors that have influenced congressional decisions concerning federal grant-in-aid programs. It concludes with an\r\nassessment of the scope and nature of the contemporary federal grants-in-aid system and raises several issues for congressional consideration, including possible ways to augment congressional\r\ncapacity to provide effective oversight of this system.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORT", "active": false, "formats": [ { "format": "PDF", "filename": "files/20090615_R40638_95aa1310cde9d1bee601110c197979495c64d66c.pdf" }, { "format": "HTML", "filename": "files/20090615_R40638_95aa1310cde9d1bee601110c197979495c64d66c.html" } ], "topics": [ { "source": "LIV", "id": "Budgets", "name": "Budgets" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Grants-in-aid", "name": "Grants-in-aid" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Congress", "name": "Congress" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Congressional oversight", "name": "Congressional oversight" } ] } ], "topics": [ "American Law", "Domestic Social Policy", "Health Policy", "Transportation Policy" ] }