A Study On The Evolution Of The Role Of The Federal Government In American Social Governance Since The 20^th Century

The main actor of American Social Governance is the Civil Society.To what extent does the Federal Government have influence on American Social Governance and why does it happen? What's the role of the Federal Government and how did it evolve? What is the consequence of its evolution? These are the questions of the research.Based on the ideas and capacity of intervention,this paper anaylzes the evolution of the role of the Federal Government in American Social Governance since the 20 th century,as “Bystander”,“Participant”,“Intervenor”,“Leader” and“Meta-Governor”,to generlize the significance and value of the Federal Government in American Social Governance.The paper is divided into three parts: The first part is introduction,including the research significance,the clarity of concepts,the research status quo and the innovations.The second part is divided into five chapters:The first Chapter is “the Transformation of the Federal Government-from Bystander to Participant”.From the early 20 th century to early 1930 s,the role of the Federal Government in American Social Governance was changed from “Bystander"to “Participant”.Due to the traditional structure of “Small Government”-“Big Society”,the Civil Society was the main actor of American Social Governance.Rather than intervening in American Social Governance,the Federal Government acted as “Bystander” and “Night Watchman”.In the “Progressive Era”,the Federal Government began to strengthen the functions to intervene in some social affairs and changed from “Bystander” to “Participant”.The second Chapter is “the Expansion of the Federal Government's Intervention-the Establishment of Intervenor “.From the mid-1930 s to the mid-1940 s,the Federal Government acted as an “Intervenor” in American Social Governance.The Economic Crisis of 1929 had a serious impact on American society and the traditional model of Social Governance was unsustainable.The Federal Government abandoned the“Laissez-Faire” idea and adopted “State Intervention” idea to promote the Federal Government to be a “Big Government”.Through the Personal Income Tax,the reform of the tax collection system and other measures,the Federal Government enhanced tax revenue.The Federal Government had implemented a series of social policies,which were originally the responsibility of social organizations.The FederalGovernment also promoted the law of Social Security to clarify the responsibility of the Federal Government in Social Governance.Through the construction of the Social Security system,the Federal Government had continuously strengthened the intervention of social affairs and established the role of “Intervenor” in American Social Governance.The third Chapter is “Consolidation,Revision and Improvement-the Strengthening of Intervenor”.From the late 1940 s to the early 1960 s,the intervention of the Federal Government in American Social Governance continued to be consolidated and improved.After the end of World War II,the Federal Government did not return to the “Laissez-Faire” idea but insist on “National Intervention” idea by expanding the social functions,establishing specialized organizations and institutions to make the social policy more scientific and professional,strengthening the construction of the Social Security system.The Federal Government's role of“Intervenor” had been continuously strengthened.The fourth Chapter is “the Federal Government's Comprehensive Intervention-the Upgrading of Intervenor”.The international situation in the 1960 s provided the possibility for the Federal Government to resolve domestic affairs and the Federal Government was supported by domestic political,economic and social groups.The Federal Government put forward the “Great Society” reform to rebuild American society according to the Federal Government's design.The Federal Government had implemented a series of social policies to provid a large number of public goods for American society and was transformed from “Intervenor” to “Leader”.The fifth Chapter is “Return to Conservatism-from the Intervenor to Meta-Governor.” Since the 1970 s,the role of the Federal Government in American Social Governance has gradually shifted from “Intervenor” to “Meta-Governor”.The Federal Government's comprehensive intervention in American Social Governance led to a crisis of government and welfare,prompting the Federal Government to gradually revise the idea of intervention in Social Governance since the 1970 s.The Federal Government had implemented a series of conservatism reforms to reduce the scale of the Federal Government and weaken the functions of the Federal Government to promote marketization,socialization and localization of Social Governance.At the same time,the Federal Government promoted the establishment of new Social Governance model,which was the core of community autonomy.The FederalGovernment's intervention shifted from direct way to indirect way to act as a“Meta-Governor” instead of “Intervenor” in American Social Governance.The third part is the conclusion,summarizing the role of the Federal Government in American Social Governance,as “Bystander”,“Participant”,“Intervenor”,“Leader” and “Meta-Governor”,according to the ideas and capacity of intervention and analyzing the three transformations of the model of the Federal Government's intervention in American Social Governance.