Question 1

As federal regulations became more intrusive, forcing states to change their policies in order to meet national goals, some people began calling our system a ________ federalism.

Accepted Answer

Coercive federalism describes a situation where the federal government uses its power and regulations to force states to comply with national goals and policies, often leading to a loss of state sovereignty.

Question 2

Under dual federalism, the national and state governments regularly cooperate and share responsibilities.

Accepted Answer

Under dual federalism, the national and state governments are mostly separate and operate independently without much cooperation or sharing of responsibilities. Each level of government is responsible for specific areas of governance.

Question 3

Texas is among several states that have decided to take what action in response to the Affordable Care Act?

Accepted Answer

Texas has refused to expand access to Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act, joining several other states that have made the same decision. The state has also not created its own health insurance exchange, instead relying on the federal exchange to enroll residents in health insurance plans. Texas has not taken any action to automatically enroll all residents in a state-run insurance program.

Question 4

Which court case in 2013 struck down the formula for determining the states covered under the Section 5 preclearance requirement of the Voting Rights Act of 1965?

Accepted Answer

Shelby County v. Holder struck down the formula in Section 4(b) of the Voting Rights Act, which determined the states covered under the preclearance requirement in Section 5. The Supreme Court ruled that the formula was outdated and not reflective of current voting practices, and therefore unconstitutional.

Question 5

In which 1989 court case did the Texas Supreme Court unanimously declare that the huge disparities between rich and poor school districts were unacceptable and order changes in the financing of Texas's public schools?

Accepted Answer

This case, known as Edgewood ISD v. Kirby, resulted in a unanimous decision by the Texas Supreme Court that the finance system for public schools in Texas was unconstitutional because it created funding disparities between rich and poor districts that violated the state constitution. This decision led to significant changes in the funding of Texas schools, including the implementation of a Robin Hood plan that redistributes money from property-rich districts to property-poor districts.

Question 6

The Nullification Crisis of 1833 was caused by South Carolina's attempt to ignore key provisions of the New Deal.

Accepted Answer

The Nullification Crisis of 1833 was not caused by the New Deal, as the New Deal did not exist until over 80 years later in the 1930s. The crisis was the result of a dispute over tariffs and states' rights between South Carolina and the federal government under President Andrew Jackson.

Question 7

Cooperative federalism is also known as marble cake federalism.

Accepted Answer

Cooperative federalism is the close relationship between the federal government and state governments where they work together to provide services to the citizens, similar to how the ingredients in a marble cake blend together. This is why it is also known as "marble cake federalism."

Question 8

Preemption prevents states from taking certain actions that are reserved for the national government.

Accepted Answer

Preemption is the doctrine that federal law takes precedence over state law in certain circumstances, preventing states from enacting laws on certain matters that are within the exclusive purview of the national government.

Question 9

Under the concept known as independent state grounds, states can

Accepted Answer

Independent state grounds allow states to interpret their own constitutions to offer more protections or rights than those guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution, but they cannot offer fewer rights or protections.

Question 10

Although James Madison personally did not believe that the Tenth Amendment was necessary, he urged that it be adopted.

Accepted Answer

James Madison believed that the Tenth Amendment was redundant since the powers not delegated to the federal government were already reserved for the states under the Constitution. However, he ultimately urged the adoption of the Tenth Amendment in order to provide explicit protection for state sovereignty.

Question 11

Attorney General Ken Paxton joined with 15 other states in filing an amicus brief in the Supreme Court supporting which policy created by President Donald Trump?

Accepted Answer

Attorney General Ken Paxton joined with 15 other states in filing an amicus brief in the Supreme Court supporting the travel ban policy created by President Donald Trump, which temporarily suspends entry into the United States for individuals from certain countries that pose a security risk.

Question 12

According to Section 33 of the Texas Bill of Rights (Article 1 of the Texas Constitution), Texans are guaranteed the right to use and access public beaches. This is not a right that is protected under the U.S. Constitution. Which concept allows Texas to grant its citizens more rights than those listed in the U.S. Constitution?

Accepted Answer

The concept that allows Texas to grant its citizens more rights than those listed in the U.S. Constitution is known as independent state grounds. This means that states have the power to provide additional rights and protections to their citizens beyond what is provided in the U.S. Constitution.

Question 13

New Federalism often used categorical grants to help states fund programs.

Accepted Answer

New Federalism favored block grants over categorical grants, as they provided states with more flexibility in how they could spend federal funds.

Question 14

According to the supremacy clause, found in Article VI of the U.S. Constitution,

Accepted Answer

The supremacy clause establishes that federal laws take precedence over state laws, and will override them if there is a conflict. This means that the federal government has ultimate authority in cases where federal and state laws cannot coexist or where there is a conflict between them.

Question 15

Many of the political conflicts in the nation have been fought over the proper roles of states versus the national government.

Accepted Answer

This is a commonly debated issue in American political history, with ongoing conflicts between states' rights advocates and those who favor a strong federal government.

Question 16

The Tenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution prevents state governments from imposing cruel and unusual punishments.

Accepted Answer

The Eighth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution prohibits the federal government from imposing cruel and unusual punishments, and through the incorporation doctrine, this prohibition has been applied to the states. The Tenth Amendment reserves powers not delegated to the federal government to the states or the people.

Question 17

Local governments are the creation of the states.

Accepted Answer

Local governments, including cities, counties, and townships, are created by the state governments through statutes and charters. The state retains the power to regulate and oversee local governments, and can even dissolve or merge them if needed.

Question 18

Unfunded mandates requiring states to meet federal guidelines without financial support are associated with coercive federalism.

Accepted Answer

Unfunded mandates require states to comply with federal regulations without providing financial assistance. This can be seen as coercive federalism because states are compelled to comply with federal mandates without the resources to do so, effectively coerced into complying with federal policies.

Question 19

As the attorney general of Texas, Gregory Wayne Abbott followed what strategy to challenge coercive federalism?

Accepted Answer

As the attorney general of Texas, Abbott famously filed numerous lawsuits against the federal government to challenge what he saw as overreach of federal power, particularly in areas like healthcare and immigration. This can be seen as a strategy to challenge coercive federalism.

Question 20

States maintained their right to seceded from the United States under dual federalism.

Accepted Answer

Under dual federalism, while states have certain powers and rights, the U.S. Constitution does not grant them the right to secede from the Union. The Civil War and the Supreme Court case Texas v. White (1869) effectively settled the issue against the legality of secession.

Quiz 3: Texas in the Federal System