Jeffrey Kahn
- Published in print:
- 2002
- Published Online:
- November 2003
- ISBN:
- 9780199246991
- eISBN:
- 9780191599606
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/0199246998.003.0005
- Subject:
- Political Science, Russian Politics
The Soviet regime's political successors intended, from the start, a transition to a genuine federal system. An examination of the formal debates and conflicts between political elites reveals that ...
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The Soviet regime's political successors intended, from the start, a transition to a genuine federal system. An examination of the formal debates and conflicts between political elites reveals that Russia's project of ‘renewed federation’ developed on several different institutional levels and cut across many different political interests. Three of four stages in the process of federal transition are examined in detail: the ‘Parade of Sovereignties’, development of the Federation Treaty, and the crisis over a new federal Constitution. The content of these documents and their relationship with power struggles in and between Moscow and the constituent units of the new Russian Federation are examined in detail. The Republic of Tatarstan is a special case study.Less
The Soviet regime's political successors intended, from the start, a transition to a genuine federal system. An examination of the formal debates and conflicts between political elites reveals that Russia's project of ‘renewed federation’ developed on several different institutional levels and cut across many different political interests. Three of four stages in the process of federal transition are examined in detail: the ‘Parade of Sovereignties’, development of the Federation Treaty, and the crisis over a new federal Constitution. The content of these documents and their relationship with power struggles in and between Moscow and the constituent units of the new Russian Federation are examined in detail. The Republic of Tatarstan is a special case study.
Toni Hustead
- Published in print:
- 2009
- Published Online:
- February 2010
- ISBN:
- 9780199573349
- eISBN:
- 9780191721946
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199573349.003.0008
- Subject:
- Business and Management, Public Management, Pensions and Pension Management
Most US federal retirement plans are now fully funded, but since plan assets must legally be invested in federal securities, fund surpluses are used to reduce overall federal budget deficits. As a ...
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Most US federal retirement plans are now fully funded, but since plan assets must legally be invested in federal securities, fund surpluses are used to reduce overall federal budget deficits. As a result, current taxpayers are not charged with the cost of future federal retirement obligations. Nevertheless, federal rules do require the employing federal agency to budget for current personnel’s accruing liability of retirement promises. Therefore, policy decisions regarding the number of federal civilian and military personnel and the design of their retirement benefits may be made with a better understanding of the costs.Less
Most US federal retirement plans are now fully funded, but since plan assets must legally be invested in federal securities, fund surpluses are used to reduce overall federal budget deficits. As a result, current taxpayers are not charged with the cost of future federal retirement obligations. Nevertheless, federal rules do require the employing federal agency to budget for current personnel’s accruing liability of retirement promises. Therefore, policy decisions regarding the number of federal civilian and military personnel and the design of their retirement benefits may be made with a better understanding of the costs.
Steven A. Bank
- Published in print:
- 2010
- Published Online:
- May 2010
- ISBN:
- 9780195326192
- eISBN:
- 9780199775811
- Item type:
- book
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195326192.001.0001
- Subject:
- Law, Legal History
The U.S. corporate income tax — and in particular the double taxation of corporate income — has long been one of the most criticized and stubbornly persistent aspects of the federal revenue system. ...
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The U.S. corporate income tax — and in particular the double taxation of corporate income — has long been one of the most criticized and stubbornly persistent aspects of the federal revenue system. Unlike in most other industrialized countries, corporate income is taxed twice, first at the entity level and again at the shareholder level when distributed as a dividend. The conventional wisdom has been that this double taxation was part of the system's original design over a century ago and has survived despite withering opposition from business interests. In both cases, history tells another tale. Double taxation as it is known today did not appear until several decades after the corporate income tax was first adopted. Moreover, it was embraced by corporate representatives at the outset and in subsequent years businesses have been far more ambivalent about its existence than is popularly assumed. From Sword to Shield: The Transformation of the Corporate Income Tax, 1861 to Present is the first historical account of the evolution of the corporate income tax in America. It explains the origins of corporate income tax and the political, economic, and social forces that transformed it from a sword against evasion of the individual income tax to a shield against government and shareholder interference with the management of corporate funds.Less
The U.S. corporate income tax — and in particular the double taxation of corporate income — has long been one of the most criticized and stubbornly persistent aspects of the federal revenue system. Unlike in most other industrialized countries, corporate income is taxed twice, first at the entity level and again at the shareholder level when distributed as a dividend. The conventional wisdom has been that this double taxation was part of the system's original design over a century ago and has survived despite withering opposition from business interests. In both cases, history tells another tale. Double taxation as it is known today did not appear until several decades after the corporate income tax was first adopted. Moreover, it was embraced by corporate representatives at the outset and in subsequent years businesses have been far more ambivalent about its existence than is popularly assumed. From Sword to Shield: The Transformation of the Corporate Income Tax, 1861 to Present is the first historical account of the evolution of the corporate income tax in America. It explains the origins of corporate income tax and the political, economic, and social forces that transformed it from a sword against evasion of the individual income tax to a shield against government and shareholder interference with the management of corporate funds.
George A. Bermann
- Published in print:
- 2001
- Published Online:
- November 2003
- ISBN:
- 9780199245000
- eISBN:
- 9780191599996
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/0199245002.003.0008
- Subject:
- Political Science, European Union
Federal systems are about the distribution of legal and political power, but law is not only one of the currencies of federalism, it is also one of federalism's most important supports; this chapter ...
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Federal systems are about the distribution of legal and political power, but law is not only one of the currencies of federalism, it is also one of federalism's most important supports; this chapter considers the role that law plays in establishing and enforcing the system by which both legal and political power are distributed within the USA and the EU. Bermann explores the various ways in which the courts can, and choose to, enforce the principles of federalism beyond the classical ‘political’ and ‘procedural’ safeguards provided by the institutional structures themselves and the constraints on the deliberative process. He describes the reluctance on the part of courts on both sides to police the borders of enumerated competences, assess the ‘necessity’ of federal action, or carve out the ‘core’ of state sovereignty, all of which are ways of ‘second‐guessing’ the political process; he then points to the recent emphasis of the USA Supreme Court on what he calls the ‘relational’ aspects of federalism, whereby courts can identify ‘forbidden interfaces’ between State and federal governments, even without specific constitutional grounds. Bermann uses the examples of sovereign immunity and of anti‐commandeering to illustrate the manner in which court‐enforced constraints on the manner in which different levels of government interact can protect and promote democratic accountability in the USA. In contrast, European Union law offers no protection against risks to democracy from commandeering, but more broadly relies almost exclusively on the representation of member states and sub‐national units in the Council as structural political safeguards.Less
Federal systems are about the distribution of legal and political power, but law is not only one of the currencies of federalism, it is also one of federalism's most important supports; this chapter considers the role that law plays in establishing and enforcing the system by which both legal and political power are distributed within the USA and the EU. Bermann explores the various ways in which the courts can, and choose to, enforce the principles of federalism beyond the classical ‘political’ and ‘procedural’ safeguards provided by the institutional structures themselves and the constraints on the deliberative process. He describes the reluctance on the part of courts on both sides to police the borders of enumerated competences, assess the ‘necessity’ of federal action, or carve out the ‘core’ of state sovereignty, all of which are ways of ‘second‐guessing’ the political process; he then points to the recent emphasis of the USA Supreme Court on what he calls the ‘relational’ aspects of federalism, whereby courts can identify ‘forbidden interfaces’ between State and federal governments, even without specific constitutional grounds. Bermann uses the examples of sovereign immunity and of anti‐commandeering to illustrate the manner in which court‐enforced constraints on the manner in which different levels of government interact can protect and promote democratic accountability in the USA. In contrast, European Union law offers no protection against risks to democracy from commandeering, but more broadly relies almost exclusively on the representation of member states and sub‐national units in the Council as structural political safeguards.
Kalypso Nicolaidis and Robert Howse (eds)
- Published in print:
- 2001
- Published Online:
- November 2003
- ISBN:
- 9780199245000
- eISBN:
- 9780191599996
- Item type:
- book
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/0199245002.001.0001
- Subject:
- Political Science, European Union
This book is about the complex and changing relationship between levels of governance in the US and the European Union. On the basis of a transatlantic dialogue between scholars concerned about modes ...
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This book is about the complex and changing relationship between levels of governance in the US and the European Union. On the basis of a transatlantic dialogue between scholars concerned about modes of governance on both sides, it is a collective attempt at analysing the ramifications of the legitimacy crisis in these multi‐layered democracies, and possible remedies to this. Starting from a focus on the current policy debates over ‘devolution’ and ‘subsidiarity’, the book engages the reader into the broader tension of comparative federalism. Its authors believe that in spite of the fundamental differences between them, both the EU and the USA are in the process of re‐defining a federal vision for the twenty‐first century. The book is a contribution to the study of federalism and European integration, and seeks to bridge the divide between the two. It also bridges the traditional divide between technical, legal or regulatory discussions of federal governance and philosophical debates over questions of belonging and multiple identities. It is a multi‐disciplinary project, bringing together historians, political scientists and theorists, legal scholars, sociologists and political economists (more than 20 authors are involved), and includes both innovative analysis and prescriptions on how to reshape the federal contract in the USA and the EU. Included are introductions to the history of federalism in the USA and the EU, the current debates over devolution and subsidiarity, the legal framework of federalism and theories of regulatory federalism, as well as innovative approaches to the application of network analysis, principal‐agent models, institutionalist analysis, and political theories of citizenship to the federal context. The introduction and conclusion by the editors draws out cross‐cutting themes and lessons from the thinking together of the EU and USA experiences, and suggest how a ‘federal vision’ could be freed from the hierarchical paradigm of the ‘federal state’ and articulated around concepts of mutual tolerance and empowerment. The seventeen chapters are arranged in five sections: I. Articulating the Federal Vision (two chapters)—views of federalism in its USA and EU versions; II. Levels of Governance in the USA and the European Union: Facts and Diagnosis (four chapters)—an overview of the history and current state of federalism in the USA and EU; III. Legal and Regulatory Instruments of Federal Governance (three chapters); IV. Federalism, Legitimacy, and Governance: Models for Understanding (four chapters); V. Federalism, Legitimacy, and Identity (four chapters)—a discussion of the deeper roots of legitimacy in federal systems; there is also an appendix, which discusses the basic principles for the allocation of competence in the USA and EU.Less
This book is about the complex and changing relationship between levels of governance in the US and the European Union. On the basis of a transatlantic dialogue between scholars concerned about modes of governance on both sides, it is a collective attempt at analysing the ramifications of the legitimacy crisis in these multi‐layered democracies, and possible remedies to this. Starting from a focus on the current policy debates over ‘devolution’ and ‘subsidiarity’, the book engages the reader into the broader tension of comparative federalism. Its authors believe that in spite of the fundamental differences between them, both the EU and the USA are in the process of re‐defining a federal vision for the twenty‐first century. The book is a contribution to the study of federalism and European integration, and seeks to bridge the divide between the two. It also bridges the traditional divide between technical, legal or regulatory discussions of federal governance and philosophical debates over questions of belonging and multiple identities. It is a multi‐disciplinary project, bringing together historians, political scientists and theorists, legal scholars, sociologists and political economists (more than 20 authors are involved), and includes both innovative analysis and prescriptions on how to reshape the federal contract in the USA and the EU. Included are introductions to the history of federalism in the USA and the EU, the current debates over devolution and subsidiarity, the legal framework of federalism and theories of regulatory federalism, as well as innovative approaches to the application of network analysis, principal‐agent models, institutionalist analysis, and political theories of citizenship to the federal context. The introduction and conclusion by the editors draws out cross‐cutting themes and lessons from the thinking together of the EU and USA experiences, and suggest how a ‘federal vision’ could be freed from the hierarchical paradigm of the ‘federal state’ and articulated around concepts of mutual tolerance and empowerment. The seventeen chapters are arranged in five sections: I. Articulating the Federal Vision (two chapters)—views of federalism in its USA and EU versions; II. Levels of Governance in the USA and the European Union: Facts and Diagnosis (four chapters)—an overview of the history and current state of federalism in the USA and EU; III. Legal and Regulatory Instruments of Federal Governance (three chapters); IV. Federalism, Legitimacy, and Governance: Models for Understanding (four chapters); V. Federalism, Legitimacy, and Identity (four chapters)—a discussion of the deeper roots of legitimacy in federal systems; there is also an appendix, which discusses the basic principles for the allocation of competence in the USA and EU.
John Peterson and Laurence J. O'Toole
- Published in print:
- 2001
- Published Online:
- November 2003
- ISBN:
- 9780199245000
- eISBN:
- 9780191599996
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/0199245002.003.0012
- Subject:
- Political Science, European Union
The authors start by pointing out that as institutional forms for the governance of polities on a massive scale in the USA and the EU, networks face serious and potentially disabling challenges in ...
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The authors start by pointing out that as institutional forms for the governance of polities on a massive scale in the USA and the EU, networks face serious and potentially disabling challenges in terms of legitimacy. Network forms of governance tend to advantage experts or sophisticated actors who are familiar with all levels of government in federal systems, as opposed to ordinary citizens. To ignore the normative questions about input legitimacy to which network governance gives rise to risks weakening the democratic foundations of the federalist contracts that bind together levels of governance, public, quasi‐public, and private actors, and states and citizens in Europe and America. The argument is presented in four sections: first, an explanation is given of why network forms of governance have proliferated and the legitimacy issues that arise are considered, yielding a set of assessment criteria to be applied in framing analyses of legitimacy in different, real‐world political systems; second, an examination is made of networks in the EU; third, an assessment is offered of network structures in American governance; last, network structures in the two polities are compared and contrasted, highlighting both critical issues and network features with implications for legitimacy, as well as ways in which the democratic deficit that plagues network forms of governance might be closed.Less
The authors start by pointing out that as institutional forms for the governance of polities on a massive scale in the USA and the EU, networks face serious and potentially disabling challenges in terms of legitimacy. Network forms of governance tend to advantage experts or sophisticated actors who are familiar with all levels of government in federal systems, as opposed to ordinary citizens. To ignore the normative questions about input legitimacy to which network governance gives rise to risks weakening the democratic foundations of the federalist contracts that bind together levels of governance, public, quasi‐public, and private actors, and states and citizens in Europe and America. The argument is presented in four sections: first, an explanation is given of why network forms of governance have proliferated and the legitimacy issues that arise are considered, yielding a set of assessment criteria to be applied in framing analyses of legitimacy in different, real‐world political systems; second, an examination is made of networks in the EU; third, an assessment is offered of network structures in American governance; last, network structures in the two polities are compared and contrasted, highlighting both critical issues and network features with implications for legitimacy, as well as ways in which the democratic deficit that plagues network forms of governance might be closed.
Bart Kerremans and Jan Beyers
- Published in print:
- 2001
- Published Online:
- November 2004
- ISBN:
- 9780199248056
- eISBN:
- 9780191601545
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/0199248052.003.0008
- Subject:
- Political Science, European Union
The purpose of this chapter is to examine the role of the Belgian permanent representation to the European Union from two angles. The first is sceptical, and asks, in light of the presence of all ...
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The purpose of this chapter is to examine the role of the Belgian permanent representation to the European Union from two angles. The first is sceptical, and asks, in light of the presence of all federal Belgian institutions (including the federal Foreign Ministry) in Brussels, what role the Belgian permanent representation plays beyond that of postbox, of transmitter of messages between the EU and Belgium and vice versa? The second viewpoint is quite the opposite, and is the perspective of high expectations: being in Brussels and representing Belgium’s interests in the same city could be beneficial, with a local presence providing added value to the work a permanent representation traditionally plays or is expected to play. What that added value may be can be determined by looking at the general benefits and the extent to which they are used productively by the Belgian permanent representation, and at the particular dividends it pays within the context of the Belgian federal political system. The first section of the chapter looks at the internal organization of the Belgian permanent representation (personnel and internal operation), the second looks at the position of the permanent representation in the Belgian policy co-ordination system, and the last discusses the added value and role of the Belgian permanent representation in relation to its presence inside the country it is supposed to represent.Less
The purpose of this chapter is to examine the role of the Belgian permanent representation to the European Union from two angles. The first is sceptical, and asks, in light of the presence of all federal Belgian institutions (including the federal Foreign Ministry) in Brussels, what role the Belgian permanent representation plays beyond that of postbox, of transmitter of messages between the EU and Belgium and vice versa? The second viewpoint is quite the opposite, and is the perspective of high expectations: being in Brussels and representing Belgium’s interests in the same city could be beneficial, with a local presence providing added value to the work a permanent representation traditionally plays or is expected to play. What that added value may be can be determined by looking at the general benefits and the extent to which they are used productively by the Belgian permanent representation, and at the particular dividends it pays within the context of the Belgian federal political system. The first section of the chapter looks at the internal organization of the Belgian permanent representation (personnel and internal operation), the second looks at the position of the permanent representation in the Belgian policy co-ordination system, and the last discusses the added value and role of the Belgian permanent representation in relation to its presence inside the country it is supposed to represent.
Denis Lacorne
- Published in print:
- 2001
- Published Online:
- November 2003
- ISBN:
- 9780199245000
- eISBN:
- 9780191599996
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/0199245002.003.0018
- Subject:
- Political Science, European Union
Draws an analogy between the threats posed by social heterogeneity in the USA and the threats posed by differing national allegiances in the EU. The author reminds USA that core political identities ...
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Draws an analogy between the threats posed by social heterogeneity in the USA and the threats posed by differing national allegiances in the EU. The author reminds USA that core political identities can vary over time and that early conceptions of citizenship in the USA focussed almost exclusively on state, not federal, citizenship; in his view, within unitary states communities of identity are fine so long as individuals do not conflate these with their core political identity. In a federal system, the problem or challenge is exactly that of belonging to several political communities. Lacorne argues that pure constitutional patriotism will not suffice, since individuals require a substantial citizenship; what is needed instead are ‘common and concrete political experiences’ that would give rise to ‘a new European ethics of responsibility’. The two sections of the chapter are: The Irrelevance of the American Model of Federal Citizenship; and The Relevance of the American Multicultural Model.Less
Draws an analogy between the threats posed by social heterogeneity in the USA and the threats posed by differing national allegiances in the EU. The author reminds USA that core political identities can vary over time and that early conceptions of citizenship in the USA focussed almost exclusively on state, not federal, citizenship; in his view, within unitary states communities of identity are fine so long as individuals do not conflate these with their core political identity. In a federal system, the problem or challenge is exactly that of belonging to several political communities. Lacorne argues that pure constitutional patriotism will not suffice, since individuals require a substantial citizenship; what is needed instead are ‘common and concrete political experiences’ that would give rise to ‘a new European ethics of responsibility’. The two sections of the chapter are: The Irrelevance of the American Model of Federal Citizenship; and The Relevance of the American Multicultural Model.
Alicia Hinarejos
- Published in print:
- 2009
- Published Online:
- May 2010
- ISBN:
- 9780199569960
- eISBN:
- 9780191721977
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199569960.003.0001
- Subject:
- Law, EU Law
This chapter focuses on those aspects of the role of the European Court of Justice (ECJ) that liken it to the constitutional court of a federal legal system. It provides a broad-brush overview of the ...
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This chapter focuses on those aspects of the role of the European Court of Justice (ECJ) that liken it to the constitutional court of a federal legal system. It provides a broad-brush overview of the different models of constitutional review, before focusing on the ECJ itself, its creation, and its posterior evolution into a constitutional adjudicator of sorts. It then sheds light on the choice of two specific areas of the jurisdiction of the Court as the object of this study.Less
This chapter focuses on those aspects of the role of the European Court of Justice (ECJ) that liken it to the constitutional court of a federal legal system. It provides a broad-brush overview of the different models of constitutional review, before focusing on the ECJ itself, its creation, and its posterior evolution into a constitutional adjudicator of sorts. It then sheds light on the choice of two specific areas of the jurisdiction of the Court as the object of this study.
James A. Gardner
- Published in print:
- 2010
- Published Online:
- January 2011
- ISBN:
- 9780195368321
- eISBN:
- 9780199867509
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195368321.003.0004
- Subject:
- Law, Constitutional and Administrative Law
This chapter places the book's approach in its interpretational context by linking the federal structure of constitutional norm production to the ever-present problem of interpretational methodology. ...
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This chapter places the book's approach in its interpretational context by linking the federal structure of constitutional norm production to the ever-present problem of interpretational methodology. It begins by arguing that previous approaches to the interpretation of subnational constitutions have failed because they improperly attempted to apply the dominant jurisprudence of national constitutional interpretation—constitutional positivism—to the constitutions of the states. Yet constitutional positivism as a technique only makes sense where subnational units are autonomous, as independent nations are. However, states in a federal system like ours are far from the kind of autonomous sovereigns contemplated by prevailing theories of national constitutional interpretation. Indeed, a state constitution is the product of processes that transcend the state, and in which both the state and national polities participate. As a result, the interpretation of state constitutions inevitably will require at least some resort to national norms and sources of constitutional meaning.Less
This chapter places the book's approach in its interpretational context by linking the federal structure of constitutional norm production to the ever-present problem of interpretational methodology. It begins by arguing that previous approaches to the interpretation of subnational constitutions have failed because they improperly attempted to apply the dominant jurisprudence of national constitutional interpretation—constitutional positivism—to the constitutions of the states. Yet constitutional positivism as a technique only makes sense where subnational units are autonomous, as independent nations are. However, states in a federal system like ours are far from the kind of autonomous sovereigns contemplated by prevailing theories of national constitutional interpretation. Indeed, a state constitution is the product of processes that transcend the state, and in which both the state and national polities participate. As a result, the interpretation of state constitutions inevitably will require at least some resort to national norms and sources of constitutional meaning.
Robert Wuthnow
- Published in print:
- 2014
- Published Online:
- October 2017
- ISBN:
- 9780691159898
- eISBN:
- 9781400852116
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Princeton University Press
- DOI:
- 10.23943/princeton/9780691159898.003.0007
- Subject:
- Religion, Religion and Society
This chapter examines how a state that was once favorable to the federal welfare system became so antagonistic to big government a half century later. It argues that although Texas benefited from and ...
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This chapter examines how a state that was once favorable to the federal welfare system became so antagonistic to big government a half century later. It argues that although Texas benefited from and supported the New Deal, it did so with considerable misgiving. One of the principal reasons for this resistance was religion, especially religion that emphasized individual self-sufficiency and was with relatively few exceptions staunchly in favor of a clear separation of church and state. That meant concern not only about government intrusion into the affairs of religion but also about it staying out of the lives of religious people. Besides religious organizations themselves, strong private charity agencies existed as well. The religious and charitable organizations were unable to deal with the social needs that increased so dramatically during the Depression, but they played a strong hand in stating how social welfare should be understood. Those inclinations were to surface again with strong political implications at the end of the twentieth century.Less
This chapter examines how a state that was once favorable to the federal welfare system became so antagonistic to big government a half century later. It argues that although Texas benefited from and supported the New Deal, it did so with considerable misgiving. One of the principal reasons for this resistance was religion, especially religion that emphasized individual self-sufficiency and was with relatively few exceptions staunchly in favor of a clear separation of church and state. That meant concern not only about government intrusion into the affairs of religion but also about it staying out of the lives of religious people. Besides religious organizations themselves, strong private charity agencies existed as well. The religious and charitable organizations were unable to deal with the social needs that increased so dramatically during the Depression, but they played a strong hand in stating how social welfare should be understood. Those inclinations were to surface again with strong political implications at the end of the twentieth century.
Alberto Alesina and Edward Glaeser
- Published in print:
- 2004
- Published Online:
- April 2005
- ISBN:
- 9780199267668
- eISBN:
- 9780191602153
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/0199267669.003.0004
- Subject:
- Economics and Finance, Public and Welfare
This chapter examines the “political” explanations for the difference in the distributive policies of the United States and Europe. Political and institutional variables provide useful insights on ...
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This chapter examines the “political” explanations for the difference in the distributive policies of the United States and Europe. Political and institutional variables provide useful insights on differences in redistribution. These include the lack of a strong socialist party, the nature of the electoral system in the United States vs. Europe, the nature of the federal Constitution in the United States compared to the more centralised states in Europe, and the different role of the courts.Less
This chapter examines the “political” explanations for the difference in the distributive policies of the United States and Europe. Political and institutional variables provide useful insights on differences in redistribution. These include the lack of a strong socialist party, the nature of the electoral system in the United States vs. Europe, the nature of the federal Constitution in the United States compared to the more centralised states in Europe, and the different role of the courts.
Stephen H. Axilrod
- Published in print:
- 2013
- Published Online:
- September 2013
- ISBN:
- 9780199934485
- eISBN:
- 9780199345786
- Item type:
- book
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199934485.001.0001
- Subject:
- Economics and Finance, Macro- and Monetary Economics
The Federal Reserve System—the central bank of the United States, better known as the Fed—has never been more controversial. Criticism has reached such levels that Congressman Ron Paul, contender for ...
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The Federal Reserve System—the central bank of the United States, better known as the Fed—has never been more controversial. Criticism has reached such levels that Congressman Ron Paul, contender for the Republican presidential nomination in 2012, published End the Fed, with blurbs from musician Arlo Guthrie and actor Vince Vaughn. And yet, amid a slow economy and partisan gridlock, the Fed has never been more important. This book explains this influential agency: its powers, operations, and how it sets policy. Of the two major governmental tools for shaping the economy, Congress controls fiscal policy—taxation and spending—and the Fed makes monetary policy—influencing how much money circulates in the economy, and how quickly. Traditionally the Fed has relied on three instruments: open-market operations (buying and selling U.S. bonds), lending to banks, and setting reserve requirements on bank deposits. It also helps to regulate the financial system. The book shows how these tools actually work, and answers a series of increasingly detailed questions in the series format. It asks, for instance, if the system of regional Fed banks needs modification for today's technological landscape; if there is corruption in the Fed's governance; what happens to profits from its operations; the impact of political pressure; the extent of Congressional oversight; and just how independent it truly is.Less
The Federal Reserve System—the central bank of the United States, better known as the Fed—has never been more controversial. Criticism has reached such levels that Congressman Ron Paul, contender for the Republican presidential nomination in 2012, published End the Fed, with blurbs from musician Arlo Guthrie and actor Vince Vaughn. And yet, amid a slow economy and partisan gridlock, the Fed has never been more important. This book explains this influential agency: its powers, operations, and how it sets policy. Of the two major governmental tools for shaping the economy, Congress controls fiscal policy—taxation and spending—and the Fed makes monetary policy—influencing how much money circulates in the economy, and how quickly. Traditionally the Fed has relied on three instruments: open-market operations (buying and selling U.S. bonds), lending to banks, and setting reserve requirements on bank deposits. It also helps to regulate the financial system. The book shows how these tools actually work, and answers a series of increasingly detailed questions in the series format. It asks, for instance, if the system of regional Fed banks needs modification for today's technological landscape; if there is corruption in the Fed's governance; what happens to profits from its operations; the impact of political pressure; the extent of Congressional oversight; and just how independent it truly is.
James E. Pfander
- Published in print:
- 2009
- Published Online:
- September 2009
- ISBN:
- 9780195340334
- eISBN:
- 9780199867233
- Item type:
- book
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195340334.001.0001
- Subject:
- Law, Constitutional and Administrative Law
Despite over two hundred years of experience with constitutional government, much remains unclear about the power of the political branches to curtail or re-define the judicial power of the United ...
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Despite over two hundred years of experience with constitutional government, much remains unclear about the power of the political branches to curtail or re-define the judicial power of the United States. Uncertainty persists about the basis on which state courts and federal agencies may hear federal claims and the degree to which federal courts must review their decisions. Scholars approach these questions from a range of vantage points and have arrived at widely varying conclusions about the relationship between congressional and judicial power. Deploying familiar forms of legal analysis, and relying upon a new account of the Court's supremacy in relation to lower courts and tribunals, this book advances a departmental conception of the judiciary. It argues that Congress can enlist the state courts, lower federal courts, and administrative agencies to hear federal claims in the first instance, but all of these tribunals must operate within a hierarchical framework over which the “one supreme Court” identified in the Constitution exercises ultimate supervisory authority. This book takes up such important debates in the federal courts' literature as Congress's power to strip the federal courts of jurisdiction to review state court decisions, its authority to assign decision-making authority to state courts and non-Article III tribunals, its control over the doctrine of vertical stare decisis, and its ability to craft rules of practice for the federal system.Less
Despite over two hundred years of experience with constitutional government, much remains unclear about the power of the political branches to curtail or re-define the judicial power of the United States. Uncertainty persists about the basis on which state courts and federal agencies may hear federal claims and the degree to which federal courts must review their decisions. Scholars approach these questions from a range of vantage points and have arrived at widely varying conclusions about the relationship between congressional and judicial power. Deploying familiar forms of legal analysis, and relying upon a new account of the Court's supremacy in relation to lower courts and tribunals, this book advances a departmental conception of the judiciary. It argues that Congress can enlist the state courts, lower federal courts, and administrative agencies to hear federal claims in the first instance, but all of these tribunals must operate within a hierarchical framework over which the “one supreme Court” identified in the Constitution exercises ultimate supervisory authority. This book takes up such important debates in the federal courts' literature as Congress's power to strip the federal courts of jurisdiction to review state court decisions, its authority to assign decision-making authority to state courts and non-Article III tribunals, its control over the doctrine of vertical stare decisis, and its ability to craft rules of practice for the federal system.
Mercier Paul and Francesco Papadia
- Published in print:
- 2011
- Published Online:
- May 2011
- ISBN:
- 9780199557523
- eISBN:
- 9780191725005
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199557523.003.0001
- Subject:
- Economics and Finance, Macro- and Monetary Economics, International
The introduction clarifies the main purpose of the book: to give an analytical account of the technology for monetary policy implementation of the European Central Bank, comparing it, when useful, ...
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The introduction clarifies the main purpose of the book: to give an analytical account of the technology for monetary policy implementation of the European Central Bank, comparing it, when useful, with the approaches of the US Federal Reserve System, the Bank of Japan, and the Bank of England. The book addresses this issue both theoretically and empirically, examining normal as well as stressed conditions. In so doing, it not only remedies a lack of attention to an important issue but it also presents a systematic treatment of the implementation of monetary policy in crisis times. The introduction also explains that the title of the book, with its reference to the concrete euro, aims at addressing the issue of how a given monetary policy stance is translated into concrete market conditions. The allusion to something as solid as concrete is also intentional. The closing section of the introduction presents the plan of the book.Less
The introduction clarifies the main purpose of the book: to give an analytical account of the technology for monetary policy implementation of the European Central Bank, comparing it, when useful, with the approaches of the US Federal Reserve System, the Bank of Japan, and the Bank of England. The book addresses this issue both theoretically and empirically, examining normal as well as stressed conditions. In so doing, it not only remedies a lack of attention to an important issue but it also presents a systematic treatment of the implementation of monetary policy in crisis times. The introduction also explains that the title of the book, with its reference to the concrete euro, aims at addressing the issue of how a given monetary policy stance is translated into concrete market conditions. The allusion to something as solid as concrete is also intentional. The closing section of the introduction presents the plan of the book.
Balveer Arora, K.K. Kailash, Rekha Saxena, and H. Kham Khan Suan
- Published in print:
- 2013
- Published Online:
- September 2013
- ISBN:
- 9780198084952
- eISBN:
- 9780199082414
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780198084952.003.0004
- Subject:
- Political Science, Indian Politics
This chapter examines research writing about key themes related to federalism in India, including multilevel federal design and the impact of the changing party system on the operation of the federal ...
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This chapter examines research writing about key themes related to federalism in India, including multilevel federal design and the impact of the changing party system on the operation of the federal system. It discusses the complexities of interaction between different levels of government and describes the use of different forums for interaction to manage conflict and tensions since 1998. It also evaluates the impact of liberal economic policy regime on the traditional patron–client relationship between the centre and the states as the latter contend for patronage under various central schemes.Less
This chapter examines research writing about key themes related to federalism in India, including multilevel federal design and the impact of the changing party system on the operation of the federal system. It discusses the complexities of interaction between different levels of government and describes the use of different forums for interaction to manage conflict and tensions since 1998. It also evaluates the impact of liberal economic policy regime on the traditional patron–client relationship between the centre and the states as the latter contend for patronage under various central schemes.
Michael Burgess
- Published in print:
- 2012
- Published Online:
- January 2013
- ISBN:
- 9780199606238
- eISBN:
- 9780191752476
- Item type:
- book
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199606238.001.0001
- Subject:
- Political Science, Political Theory, Comparative Politics
The book is about the theory and practice of federal state formation in the post-Cold War era. It introduces the concept of the federal spirit as an instrument to examine and explore the emergence of ...
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The book is about the theory and practice of federal state formation in the post-Cold War era. It introduces the concept of the federal spirit as an instrument to examine and explore the emergence of new federal models that represent a radical departure from our conventional understanding of the conditions that gave rise to the classic cases of the United States, Switzerland, Canada and Australia. In contrast the formation of the new federal models exemplified by Belgium, the Russian Federation, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Ethiopia, Nigeria and Venezuela and accompanied by the gradual evolution of federal political systems in Spain, Italy, the United Kingdom and the European Union has occurred under very different circumstances. Together these contemporary developments constitute a new age: the revival of federalism. How and why has this happened and what are the new conditions according to which these models have been constructed? The book utilises the federal spirit that is inherent in the work of five major contributors to federal theory – Kenneth Wheare, William Livingston, William Riker, Carl Friedrich and Daniel Elazar - in order to rethink and reappraise the conventional approaches to federal state formation. The inclusion of three case studies in Ethiopia, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Iraq leads not only to the formulation of a new set of conditions that explain the appearance of these new models but also leads logically to a new general classification of federal democracies. The federal spirit is shown to be multidimensional in character and its theoretical implications for the comparative study of federalism are identified and assessed.Less
The book is about the theory and practice of federal state formation in the post-Cold War era. It introduces the concept of the federal spirit as an instrument to examine and explore the emergence of new federal models that represent a radical departure from our conventional understanding of the conditions that gave rise to the classic cases of the United States, Switzerland, Canada and Australia. In contrast the formation of the new federal models exemplified by Belgium, the Russian Federation, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Ethiopia, Nigeria and Venezuela and accompanied by the gradual evolution of federal political systems in Spain, Italy, the United Kingdom and the European Union has occurred under very different circumstances. Together these contemporary developments constitute a new age: the revival of federalism. How and why has this happened and what are the new conditions according to which these models have been constructed? The book utilises the federal spirit that is inherent in the work of five major contributors to federal theory – Kenneth Wheare, William Livingston, William Riker, Carl Friedrich and Daniel Elazar - in order to rethink and reappraise the conventional approaches to federal state formation. The inclusion of three case studies in Ethiopia, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Iraq leads not only to the formulation of a new set of conditions that explain the appearance of these new models but also leads logically to a new general classification of federal democracies. The federal spirit is shown to be multidimensional in character and its theoretical implications for the comparative study of federalism are identified and assessed.
Donald Pisani
- Published in print:
- 2002
- Published Online:
- March 2012
- ISBN:
- 9780520230309
- eISBN:
- 9780520927582
- Item type:
- book
- Publisher:
- University of California Press
- DOI:
- 10.1525/california/9780520230309.001.0001
- Subject:
- History, American History: 20th Century
This book's history of perhaps the boldest economic and social program ever undertaken in the United States—to reclaim and cultivate vast areas of previously unusable land across the country—shows in ...
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This book's history of perhaps the boldest economic and social program ever undertaken in the United States—to reclaim and cultivate vast areas of previously unusable land across the country—shows in detail how ambitious government programs fall prey to the power of local interest groups and the federal system of governance itself. What began as the underwriting of a variety of projects to create family farms and farming communities had become by the 1930s a massive public works and regional development program, with an emphasis on the urban as much as on the rural West.Less
This book's history of perhaps the boldest economic and social program ever undertaken in the United States—to reclaim and cultivate vast areas of previously unusable land across the country—shows in detail how ambitious government programs fall prey to the power of local interest groups and the federal system of governance itself. What began as the underwriting of a variety of projects to create family farms and farming communities had become by the 1930s a massive public works and regional development program, with an emphasis on the urban as much as on the rural West.
Dinah Shelton
- Published in print:
- 2011
- Published Online:
- January 2012
- ISBN:
- 9780199694907
- eISBN:
- 9780191731914
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199694907.003.0001
- Subject:
- Law, Public International Law
This introductory chapter first sets out the purpose of the book, which is to demonstrate how developments in international law have in turn influenced domestic legal systems, especially new ...
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This introductory chapter first sets out the purpose of the book, which is to demonstrate how developments in international law have in turn influenced domestic legal systems, especially new constitutions and constitutional law. It then considers the debate over whether the international and domestic legal orders constitute a single system (monism) or whether each domestic legal system rests self-contained, separate from others and from the international system (dualism). It describes how the place of international law in the domestic legal system depends on the source of the international law in question: whether it is a treaty, customary international law, a general principle of law, or derives from the decision of an international organization. The chapter then discusses treaties and domestic legal systems, the use of international law to inform domestic law; and federal systems.Less
This introductory chapter first sets out the purpose of the book, which is to demonstrate how developments in international law have in turn influenced domestic legal systems, especially new constitutions and constitutional law. It then considers the debate over whether the international and domestic legal orders constitute a single system (monism) or whether each domestic legal system rests self-contained, separate from others and from the international system (dualism). It describes how the place of international law in the domestic legal system depends on the source of the international law in question: whether it is a treaty, customary international law, a general principle of law, or derives from the decision of an international organization. The chapter then discusses treaties and domestic legal systems, the use of international law to inform domestic law; and federal systems.
Robert P. Bremner
- Published in print:
- 2004
- Published Online:
- October 2013
- ISBN:
- 9780300105087
- eISBN:
- 9780300127799
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Yale University Press
- DOI:
- 10.12987/yale/9780300105087.003.0006
- Subject:
- History, Economic History
In January 1949, William McChesney Martin Jr. was named assistant secretary of the Treasury Department for International Affairs. The Treasury was headed by John Snyder, who was viewed as a crony of ...
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In January 1949, William McChesney Martin Jr. was named assistant secretary of the Treasury Department for International Affairs. The Treasury was headed by John Snyder, who was viewed as a crony of President Harry S. Truman. Martin had been in office for about three months when Great Britain, America's closest ally, revealed that its foreign exchange reserves had dropped to $1.63 billion, well below its safety level of $2 billion, during the first quarter of 1949. Economists in continental Europe and in the United States called for devaluation of the pound, insisting that it was overvalued. Martin also favored devaluation, rather than addition U.S. financial assistance, as the only longer-term solution to Britain's balance of payments problem, and also had a role in negotiating the 1951 Accord, an agreement between the Treasury and the Federal Reserve System (Fed) that restored independence to the Fed. The Accord was accepted by Snyder and the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC). In 1951, Martin was appointed chairman of the Fed, replacing Thomas McCabe.Less
In January 1949, William McChesney Martin Jr. was named assistant secretary of the Treasury Department for International Affairs. The Treasury was headed by John Snyder, who was viewed as a crony of President Harry S. Truman. Martin had been in office for about three months when Great Britain, America's closest ally, revealed that its foreign exchange reserves had dropped to $1.63 billion, well below its safety level of $2 billion, during the first quarter of 1949. Economists in continental Europe and in the United States called for devaluation of the pound, insisting that it was overvalued. Martin also favored devaluation, rather than addition U.S. financial assistance, as the only longer-term solution to Britain's balance of payments problem, and also had a role in negotiating the 1951 Accord, an agreement between the Treasury and the Federal Reserve System (Fed) that restored independence to the Fed. The Accord was accepted by Snyder and the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC). In 1951, Martin was appointed chairman of the Fed, replacing Thomas McCabe.
