The relationship between the states and the national government is among the most contested issues in the United States. And questions about where power should reside, how decisions should be made, and how responsibility should be allocated have been central to the American experiment in federalism. In Polyphonic Federalism, Robert A. Schapiro defends the advantages of multiple perspectives in government, arguing that the resulting “polyphony” creates a system that is more efficient, democratic, and protective of liberties.

This groundbreaking volume contends that contemporary views of federalism are plagued by outmoded dualist notions that seek to separate state and federal authority. Instead, Schapiro proposes a polyphonic model that emphasizes the valuable interaction of state and federal law, one that more accurately describes the intersecting realities of local and national power. Through an analysis of several legal and policy debates, Polyphonic Federalism demonstrates how a multifaceted government can best realize the potential of federalism to protect fundamental rights.

Robert A. Schapiro is professor of law at Emory University School of Law.

"A brilliant book that offers a sophisticated new theory of federalism. Professor Schapiro's approach—polyphonic federalism—defends having a multitude of actors working to enhance freedom and provide effective governance. Supreme Court justices, federal judges, legislators, and academics all should pay careful attention to this path breaking work."

“Schapiro is joining a group of scholars exploring dimensions of federalism that have not been sufficiently in focus.  His contribution enables us to see facets of doctrine and practices that remind us that our system is better described as ‘federalisms’—pluralized to capture the differing relationships among states and the federal government and across the states themselves.”