Cohesion Among the Federal System

Cohesion is the key to better relationships between the states and the federal government. The Politics of Cohesive Federalism outlines the relationship dynamics that effect the increase in federal mandates that preempt state and local authority into four groups: state political cohesion, federal political cohesion, federal-state policy congruence, and alliances. One key example of a federal mandates is the Real ID Act, an act suggested by the State Motor Vehicles Administrators as a way to make contumacious states to adopt uniform procedures. A key element of the act would require re-enrollment of all current drivers licenses under a new verification process (showing original documentation such as birth certificates). Going into effect by May 2008, some states may be able to obtain additional time for implementation. Once implemented, residents lacking the id would be unable to board airplanes and would lack access to other services. Demonstrating cohesive federalism, the Real ID Act demonstrates the need for better relationship dynamics on all levels of the federal system. First, state political cohesion must become unified and be able to mobilize to protect their mutual interests. Texas Senator Leticia Van de Putte states quite clearly that “state legislators must be aggressive in their contacts with their federal counterparts and be creative in finding fresh approaches to federalism in this ever-changing environment.” Since, secondly the federal political cohesion will be more effective if federal officials are unified and mobilized to new national priorities, meaning there could be “enhanced authority for the federal government to direct subunit governmental action.” The Real ID Act is one instance where a security dimension has come into play, entering policy areas where the link to security was previously less obvious (such as state driver’s licenses). Thirdly, federal-state policy cohesion increases the combined forces of the federal and state governments creating more substantive goals toward a federal mandate. Opposition to the Real ID Act has come from state governments all across the board, leading to fundamental and structural pressures for federal officials to preempt state authority in the realm of driver’s licenses. Fourthly, state and federal governments may not enjoy the the support of politically powerful interest groups or partisan allies have their own hand in the cookie jar. For instance, the Real ID Act has come under fire from Ray Scheppach of the NGA, William Pound of the NCSL, Dan Sprague of the Council of State Governments, and Linda Lewis of AAMVA; who, in a letter delivered in March 2005 to Bill Frist and Harry Reid, declared the Real ID Act to be a “massive unfunded federal mandate.” Under these four relationship dynamics, opposition by any group can have a negative effect on federal mandates.