Question 1

What do critics of federalism argue?

Accepted Answer

D

Question 2

What is the basic premise of federalism?

Accepted Answer

The basic premise of federalism is that two or more governments share power and authority over the same land and people. In the United States, this means that power is shared between the national government and state governments. This system of government is designed to balance power between different levels of government and prevent any one government from becoming too powerful.

Question 3

In a unitary system of government, the ultimate government authority is located on which of the following levels?

Accepted Answer

In a unitary system of government, the ultimate government authority is located at the national or central level. This means that the central government has the power to make decisions and laws that affect the entire country, and it can also delegate power to lower levels of government as needed.

Question 4

Which of the following entities settles conflicts related to power sharing between the states and the national government?

Accepted Answer

The Supreme Court is responsible for settling conflicts related to power sharing between the states and the national government through their power of judicial review. This means they can interpret the Constitution and determine whether actions taken by the government are constitutional or not. The other options listed do not have the same constitutional authority to settle such conflicts.

Question 5

The advantages of a federal system of government include which of the following?

Accepted Answer

State governments in a federal system are often able to experiment with new policies and initiatives before they are adopted at the federal level, allowing for greater innovation and adaptation to local needs.

Question 6

Which of the following types of system consists of a league of independent states, each having essentially sovereign powers, and a central government with limited powers?

Accepted Answer

A confederal system is a league or alliance of states that have their own sovereignty, with a central government that has limited powers. In a confederal system, the states have more power than the central government. In contrast, a federal system distributes power more evenly between the central government and the states, while a unitary system concentrates most of the power in the central government. An authoritarian system is characterized by a strong central government that exercises total control over society, while a bicameral system has two legislative chambers, often with different functions and powers.

Question 7

The necessary and proper clause of Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution is also known as which one of the following?

Accepted Answer

The necessary and proper clause is also known as the elastic clause because it allows Congress to stretch its powers to fulfill its duties and responsibilities. This clause gives Congress the flexibility to pass laws that are necessary and proper for carrying out the powers granted by the Constitution.

Question 8

In a federal political system, how is authority distributed?

Accepted Answer

In a federal political system, authority is typically divided between the central government and regional or subdivisional governments. This allows for a sharing of power between different levels of government and promotes a balance of power. Examples of federal systems include the United States, Canada, and Germany.

Question 9

During the time of the Constitutional Convention, why was federalism an appealing compromise?

Accepted Answer

Federalism allowed for a balance between state and national power, which maintained state traditions while still creating a strong national government to handle common problems. This compromise was appealing because it accommodated the diversity of the different states while still ensuring a unified nation.

Question 10

The Constitution did not give Congress the authority to establish the Internal Revenue Service. Congress did so, however, to implement its power to "lay and collect taxes." This an example of which of the following types of power?

Accepted Answer

The Constitution did not explicitly mention the creation of the Internal Revenue Service, but Congress used its power to "lay and collect taxes" to establish the agency. This is an example of implied powers, where Congress uses its express powers to carry out necessary functions not explicitly stated in the Constitution.

Question 11

Which of the following is a noteworthy advantage of federalism?

Accepted Answer

Federalism brings government closer to the people by allowing state and local governments to handle specific issues and policies that are relevant to their communities, giving citizens a more direct voice in decision making. This allows for greater responsiveness to the needs of the people and promotes better representation.

Question 12

Which of the following statements best describes the federal government's supreme authority in the United States?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of the following statements best describes...

Question 13

Which of the following systems of government usually has a written constitution and divided authority between the central government and states?

Accepted Answer

Federalism is a system of government in which power is divided between a central government and smaller regional governments, such as states or provinces. This system typically has a written constitution that outlines the powers and limitations of each level of government. Monarchy, unitary systems, confederal systems, and oligarchies may or may not have a written constitution or division of authority between different levels of government.

Question 14

In a confederal system of government, the central government has which of the following?

Accepted Answer

In a confederal system of government, power is decentralized and the central government has almost no real power. The majority of the power rests with the states/provinces.

Question 15

Which of the following best describes police power?

Accepted Answer

Police power is the authority granted to states by the Tenth Amendment to legislate for the protection of the health, welfare, safety, and morals of the people. This includes the ability to regulate activities within their jurisdiction such as zoning laws, public health regulations, and traffic laws. It is not the authority to tax citizens (A), reserved for fighting terrorism (B), making laws prohibited by the U.S. Constitution (C), or stopping suspected illegal immigrants (D).

Question 16

Under what system is the ultimate authority assigned to the national government, while the subnational governments can only exercise the powers the central government chooses to delegate to them?

Accepted Answer

In a unitary system, the ultimate authority is assigned to the national government, which can delegate powers to subnational governments or not. The subnational governments have only the powers that the central government chooses to delegate to them. This is in contrast to a federal system, where power is shared between the national government and subnational governments, with each level having their own area of authority.

Question 17

Which of the following prevents states from using their powers to thwart national policy?

Accepted Answer

The supremacy clause of the Constitution establishes that federal law takes precedence over state law in the event of a conflict. This prevents states from using their powers to thwart national policy.

Question 18

What is the system of government in which sovereignty is constitutionally divided between the national and state governments?

Accepted Answer

Federalism is the system of government in which sovereignty is constitutionally divided between the national and state governments. This means that both levels of government have their own set of powers and responsibilities, and cannot take away from each other. This system allows for a balance of power and helps to prevent the concentration of power in any one branch of government.

Question 19

Which of the following systems of government allows the central government to make laws that are directly applicable to member states, and those states can choose not to support the laws?

Accepted Answer

In a confederal system of government, the central authority is relatively weak, and member states retain a high degree of sovereignty, often having the option to not support or enforce laws made by the central authority. This contrasts with systems like federal or unitary, where laws are more uniformly applied and enforced across all regions or states.

Question 20

What is the constitutional provision that allows federal laws to take precedent over state laws?

Accepted Answer

The Supremacy Clause of the Constitution (Article VI, Clause 2) establishes that the Constitution and the federal laws made in pursuance of it are the supreme law of the land, meaning that they take precedence over any state laws that conflict with them. This clause is often cited in cases where there is a conflict between federal and state law.

Quiz 3: Federalism