Deck 1: New Directions for State and Local Governments

Question 1

The concept of capacity refers to government's ability to

A)respond to change.
B)make decisions efficiently and responsively.
C)manage conflict.
D)All of these choices are correct.

Answer 1

D

Question 2

Which of the following is seldom used by states and localities as a tool or tools to attract and retain businesses and industry?

A)Tax credits, reductions and incentives.
B)Regulatory adjustments.
C)Paying college tuition for select employees to advance their careers.
D)Image creation.

Answer 2

C

Question 3

A recent estimate by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security placed the number of illegal immigrants at approximately

A)three hundred thousand, with 25 percent coming from Mexico.
B)5 million, with 25 percent coming from Mexico.
C)11 million with 62 percent coming from Mexico.
D)11 million with 10 percent coming from Mexico.

Answer 3

C

Question 4

As a precaution to reduce corruption, the states have moved to make government more open, understandable and accountable to the public. This is known as

A)capacity.
B)transparency.
C)the new normal.
D)devolution.

Question 5

Fiscal stress refers to

A)the pressures states and local governments face regarding interjurisdictional problems.
B)the pressures states and local governments face regarding interstate conflicts.
C)the pressures created when expenditures are greater than revenues.
D)the pressures created when revenues are greater than expenditures.

Question 6

In the aftermath of the Great Recession, the "new normal" characterizes an environment for states with

A)rising revenues and expanding services.
B)stagnant revenues and budget cuts.
C)few changes to the provision of public services.
D)stagnant revenues and expanding services.

Question 7

The term used by Bowman and Kearney that refers to the ability of government to respond effectively to change, to make decisions efficiently and responsively, and to manage conflict is

A)aptitude.
B)capability.
C)resurgence.
D)capacity.

Question 8

Population shifts during the past decade have

A)resulted in population losses for some states, such as Georgia, Florida, and Arizona.
B)resulted in population losses in the South and Northeast.
C)resulted in population shifts from the Frostbelt states to the Sunbelt states.
D)had little effect on state and local governments.

Question 9

During 2000-2010, population growth was the slowest in which of the following regions?

A)Northeast and South
B)Midwest and West
C)Northeast and Midwest
D)West and South

Question 10

Unfunded mandates imposed by federal legislation

A)are welcomed by the states because they provide much needed guidance.
B)are a source of considerable conflict between the national and state governments.
C)were totally resolved by Congress with passage of the Unfunded Mandate Act.
D)often create a financial burden for states.

Question 11

The territorial range of government authority is referred to as a

A)district.
B)federalism.
C)jurisdiction.
D)capacity.

Question 12

New ideas and programs in the states

A)come primarily from federal agencies.
B)are more likely to come from states outside a state's own region.
C)spread rapidly as states learn from one another.
D)come mainly from the private sector.

Question 13

The central argument of the Bowman and Kearney text is that state and local governments

A)have the capacity to play central roles in the U.S. federal system.
B)are not resurgent but may play a greater role than in the past in American politics.
C)are resurgent but lack the capacity to play a major role.
D)have yet to address the real concerns of the American public.

Question 14

Increased national-state conflict seems the inevitable result of

A)more capable state and local governments.
B)federal efforts to withdraw from nonnational government turf.
C)too many talk show hosts and blogs inciting activists.
D)the state courts' involvement in national-state issues.

Question 15

Federalism is best described as a

A)system of government in which powers are divided between a central (national)government and regional (state)governments.
B)system of government in which powers are given solely to a central (national)government leaving no power to regional (state)governments.
C)system of government in which powers are given solely to the regional (state)governments and no powers are given to the central (national).
D)system of government without a central (national)government.

Question 16

According to Daniel Elazar, which political culture views the function of politics as maintaining the existing order, and political participation as confined to social elites?

A)Moralistic culture
B)Postmodern culture
C)Traditionalistic culture
D)Individualistic culture

Question 17

When states bid against one another for economic development, they

A)enhance interstate cooperation.
B)use tax breaks and regulatory relaxation as drawing cards.
C)seldom use inducements that, over the long haul, cost them money.
D)usually work out agreements that allow other states to share in the economic benefits.

Question 18

In 2011, Minnesota's state government shut down for 11 days due primarily to

A)partisan disagreement over the budget.
B)the most severe snowstorm the state experienced in decades.
C)the federal government refusing to provide funds to cover a budget shortfall.
D)a unified Democratic government that decided a government shutdown would save money.

Question 19

Daniel Elazar used the term political culture to refer to

A)the way people think about their government and how the political system operates.
B)the particular mix of native-born and first-generation Americans.
C)socioeconomic, racial, and ethnic variables that affect political outcomes in the states.
D)the ideology that members of political parties hold toward issues that affect their states and local communities.

Question 20

North Dakota's consideration of dropping the "North" from its name to make it seem friendlier and less frigid qualifies as an example of

A)interstate conflict.
B)image creation.
C)interstate compacts.
D)traditionalistic culture.

Question 21

Among the factors that contributed to state resurgence are: reformed constitutions, reformed institutions, and the presence of active state and local lobbyist organizations at the national level.

Question 22

The authors of the text conclude that revitalized state and local governments

A)are less proactive and intent on forging new solutions to persistent problems.
B)face fewer challenges than in the past relating to financial problems and conflict between themselves and the national government.
C)have strengthened their position in the American federal system.
D)are less likely to become the conduit for the growing number of new federal programs.

Question 23

With respect to natural disasters, interjurisdictional conflict seldom is a common problem.

Question 24

The unique characteristics of the fifty states are

A)diversity, competitiveness, and resiliency.
B)uniformly high fiscal capabilities.
C)a newfound willingness to accept federal mandates.
D)a willingness to disregard critics and libertarians who argue that states should not tax the Internet.

Question 25

The controversies and legal actions related to issues such as same-sex marriage are examples of

A)the North-South divide.
B)the culture wars.
C)interstate conflict.
D)the new normal in fiscal policy.

Question 26

States that consider politics as a kind of open marketplace in which people participate for private motivations are considered as

A)individualistic.
B)moralistic.
C)provisional.
D)traditionalistic.

Question 27

Rainy day funds are monies set aside in good economic times for use when state revenues decline.

Question 28

States have become increasingly innovative in devising ways to enhance their revenue systems.

Question 29

The concept of capacity refers to government's ability to respond effectively to change, make decisions efficiently and responsively, and manage conflict.

Question 30

As a general rule, state governments prefer to increase user charges, gasoline taxes, and so-called sin taxes on alcohol and tobacco. They only reluctantly raise sales and income taxes.

Question 31

A survey of Iowa residents revealed that they wanted their institutions and leaders to govern honestly and wisely.

Question 32

The primary functions of state and local governments are to make policy for and provide services to the public.

Question 33

The concept of government effectiveness refers to goal attainment; that is, government accomplishes what it sets out to do.

Question 34

The concept of federalism refers to a system of government in which power is shared between the national and regional governments.

Question 35

The theme of State and Local Politics is that states and localities have the capacity to play central roles in the federal system.

Question 36

The competition with every other jurisdiction for businesses and individuals means that

A)politics functions to maintain the existing order and political participation is confined to social elites.
B)no state can afford to be too far out of line with the prevailing opinion on appropriate levels of taxes and expenditures because citizens and businesses may opt to relocate.
C)all states will reach very far afield from the prevailing opinion in terms of policies to attract new businesses and individuals.
D)states have no control over policy in any meaningful way.

Question 37

Over the past thirty years, state governments have become increasingly dependent on the federal government for revenues.

Question 38

During the 1980s, states experienced resurgence, but by the 1990s, the resurgence had waned as states became more reactive rather than proactive due to fiscal stress caused by the poor condition of the national economy.

Question 39

Much of the explanation for the Minnesota government shutdown was partisanship.

Question 40

Interstate cooperation fosters a healthy climate for joint problem solving among the states. This type of cooperation is illustrated in the states working together to sue some of America's largest corporations to recover Medicaid funds spent on tobacco-related illnesses, to fight unfair business practices like the Microsoft antitrust suit, and to compel power plants to reduce their carbon emissions.

Question 41

The unofficial region of the nation comprised of the South and West is known as the Sunbelt.

Question 42

Population shifts can have significant political or economic consequences for state and local governments.

Question 43

The most frequent sources of intergovernmental conflict are over natural resources and economic development.

Question 44

What are cultural wars, and how have they affected politics in the states? Provide some examples that illustrate how cultural wars have affected politics and policy in the states.

Question 45

In the last several years following the Great Recession, states' and localities' budgets have been hit very hard. Discuss several ways this fiscal stress has impacted the states. Conclude with a discussion of what the future might hold for state governments and their capacity to provide services as a result of this recent fiscal stress.

Question 46

There seldom is tension between the national and nonnational governments in a federal system.

Question 47

During the last three decades, states and localities have generally increased their capacity to provide services. Discuss factors that reinforce the performance of states and localities during this time period. In doing so, illustrate each factor with an example.

Question 48

As of 2010, approximately 38 million (or 13 percent)of the nation's population was foreign born, with 53 percent of the foreign born from Latin America and another 28 percent from Asia.

Question 49

Population changes carry enormous economic and political consequences for state and local governments. Generally, power and influence follow populations. Describe the trends of the late 2000s and what implications they have for states and the Congress.

Question 50

Transparency refers to the ability of local stations to broadcast internal government meetings.

Question 51

The pure forms of political culture presented by Daniel Elazar no longer characterize many states.

Question 52

The concept of political culture refers to the attitudes, values, and beliefs people hold toward government.

Question 53

Define the concept of political culture. Why is it important to understand political culture, and how does it affect politics in the states and local governments? Using Daniel Elazar's categories of political culture, explain the category into which your state falls, and list several contributing factors behind your categorization.

Question 54

The most intractable problem for states and localities involves money.

Question 55

Higher rates of growth were once more prevalent in cities in the Sunbelt region than in cities of the Frostbelt, but that trend has recently changed.