This book traces the development of the United States' federal system from 1789 to 1991. It focuses upon the balance of political power between the nation and the States. Chapters are devoted to theories of federalism, the establishment of the federal system as a replacement for the confederacy established by the Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union, trends in nation-state relations, Congressional pre-emption of state and local authority, judicial pre-emption, administrative pre-emption, fiscal federalism, interstate relations, and American federalism in the 21st century. Professor Zimmerman, an experienced scholar of the United States' federal system, has written a comprehensive and authoritative appraisal of the complexities and problems of the contemporary system. He has produced an accessible textbook for students of politics on both sides of the Atlantic.