Federalism in action

There are a couple of interesting social policy issues getting a lot of attention in the US at the moment, and they act as a useful way of introducing the concept of federal-state relations.

First up, is the question of marijuana use. California may lead the way in becoming the first place in the west to move to full legalisation.

Read more here.

Then we have the question of gay marriage. The judge on the California Supreme Court is due to make a ruling on the Prop 8 case, and whatever the outcome the case is likely to go to the US Supreme Court in Washington, DC. Following this case is a udeful primer on many of the issues surrounding the dynamics of the relationship between the federal and state governments. The Economist covers it here.