After reading this chapter, you will be able to do the following: 

• Explain the tension in American federalism between state and federal laws.
• Identify the elements of the U.S. Constitution that shape American federalism and evaluate arguments about the proper limits of congressional power under their authority.
• Describe the development of American federalism over time.
• List changes to American federalism in the post–New Deal era.
• Discuss the current status of American federalism and how it might continue to evolve.