Federalism and the Roberts Court

The Roberts Court saw a number of important advances for judicial enforcement of federalism-based limits on congressional power, both in high-profile cases such as NFIB v. Sebelius, and lesser known ones. Much of this progress fits the conventional model of federalism as a left-right ideological issue on the Court, which divides liberal Democrats from conservative Republicans. But some noteworthy developments depart from this framework, and suggest greater openness to federalism among some on the left.