Final answer:
New Federalism resonates with the political shift towards decentralizing power from the federal to state governments, started under Nixon and Reagan. However, its name is misleading due to the continued use of unfunded mandates that contradict the goal of increased state flexibility and autonomy.
Step-by-step explanation:
New Federalism is a political philosophy and approach to federalism that began during the administrations of Presidents Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan. This approach aimed to decentralize policies by transferring certain powers and responsibilities from the federal government back to the states. Nixon introduced general revenue sharing to distribute federal funds with minimal restrictions, and Reagan further advocated for a "devolution revolution" giving states more authority and flexibility in the use of federal funds.
'New Federalism' Misleading :
Despite its intentions, the term 'New Federalism' can be misleading. While it ostensibly promotes more state autonomy, the reality has been mixed. Unfunded mandates continue to be imposed by the federal government, which pass costs to the states without providing accompanying funding. This has led to instances of coercive federalism, where the federal government uses its authority to enforce national objectives on the states, sometimes leading to confrontational interactions.