layer-cake federalism

The official, Jonathan Lindley, explained that in old, “layer-cake federalism” Government agencies channeling money to the states were stacked one on the other like the layers of a cake.

1967 March 16, Lou Panos, “Inside Baltimore”, in The Evening Sun, volume 114, number 127, Baltimore, Md., page D1, column 2

The classical view of layer-cake federalism presumed that each level of government specialized by function.

1984, Donald F. Kettl, “The Maturing of American Federalism”, in Robert T. Golembiewski, Aaron Wildavsky, editors, The Costs of Federalism: Essays in Honor of James W. Fesler, Transaction Books, →ISBN, page 74

Think about it: It takes extraordinarily less effort to say Fair Share would force you into a union, force you to pay dues or use those dues for political activities, than it does to be on the defending side arguing the nuances of what collective bargaining and layer-cake federalism mean to average voters.

2009 January 2, Jesse Tangkhpanya, “Fitting tribute to a new year”, in Iowa City Press-Citizen, page 9A, columns 5–6

Still, the ideals of layer-cake federalism and institutional congruity retain their initial appeal, promising democratic accountability, allocative efficiency and transparency for the citizens. Is the real-life marble-cake federalism thus just a second-best solution to the non-attainable ideal of layer-cake federalism?

2018, Nathalie Behnke, Sabine Kropp, editors, Ten Years of Federalism Reform in Germany: Dynamics and Effects of Institutional Development, Routledge, →ISBN