For Way 1: What level of government (local, state, or national[*]) would best suits each category?
Immigration: National. Education: State. Environment: State. Water Rights: Local/State. Homeland Security: NationalUnemployment: State. Transportation Infrastructure: State/National.
For Way 2: How does each level of govt. affect each policy category? This way may help you organize your thoughts more.
Most of the issues should be handled by the state. Things like immigration and homeland security should be managed by the Federal Government because they effect the nation as a whole; while water rights should be managed either by the local municipal government or by the state. Things like transportation infrastructure should be maintained by the state, as you do pay taxes to the state government to maintain them. However, interstates are federal roads and should be maintained by either the state they lie in or federal government.
Explanation:
Immigration is a national issue. Immigrants can go wherever in the country they want, and that is why the Federal Government should handle this.
For me, education policies should be left to the states to decide. The Federal Government could set guidelines down as to what needs to be required generally, but otherwise, let that be an issue the states handle.
When it comes to environment, not everyone agrees how to handle this topic. I think it should be up to the states to decide how they are going to handle this issue. It would allow states like Washington and California that are supposedly "sticking up for the environment" to band together without Federal interference and it would allow states like Texas and Idaho to be free to do their own thing without Federal interference. The Federal Government should only step in there are building cities being built on toxic waste dumps, should there be any toxic waste dumps.
On the topic of water rights, I do not know what you mean. Everyone has the right to clean water. And keeping that water clean and accessible should be handled by the local government. The state should step in if the local government isn't keeping the water clean and accessible.
Homeland security is a national issue that effects the nation as a whole and should be handled by the Federal Government.
Unemployment is a national issue, but I think the states should handle it. Every state (and city for that matter) can set its own minimum wage and local policies that can help businesses decide if they want to hire more or less people. For example, if the local or state government sets the minimum wage to $20/hour but the business isn't making enough money to pay all of its employees (say it has 20 employees), it will either lay off/fire a number of those employees and avoid hiring more to allow it to pay the minimum wage, cut the time employees are working so they work less time and require less pay, or raise its prices. Of course, a small business likely wouldn't be able to raise its prices and probably can't afford to cut the time its employees are on staff. This means more people will be out of work, and prices will also be higher to pay for the wages for those still in the workforce. Like the environment, people differ on this topic and I think its best to keep the federal government out of this issue to ensure it gets handled the way the locals want it to.
Highways like US. Route 101 should be managed by the state, since they aren't as important to inter-state travel as the auspiciously named interstate system. However, interstates should be maintained by both/either the state or the Federal governments.
I take it the question is from a test, so I would guess you should also consult what the lessons or textbooks say about the topic. The question is worded in such a way that it is asking for your opinion, but I would suggest sticking as close to the course as possible for the sake of not getting a bad grade (or worse grade if you already have a bad grade).
