Readers of this chapter will be able to:

1. Describe how federalism affects public policy in issues such as legalized marijuana
2. Summarize how the US constitution shapes federal, state, and local policymaking
3. Identify key historical events that have changed federal and state relationships
4. Describe how factors like federal grants, state capacity, political parties, and political culture influence state-level policymaking
5. Discuss the virtues of federalism and intergovernmental relations for developing US public policy