Question 1

State governments receive more than __________of their general revenue directly from the federal government.

Accepted Answer

State governments receive more than one-third of their general revenue directly from the federal government through various grants and funding programs.

Question 2

Adopting earlier legal arguments of conservatives, Democrats and progressives also relied on legal arguments based on __________to oppose Donald Trump's executive order banning "sanctuary cities."

Accepted Answer

Democrats and progressives used legal arguments based on states' rights and the 10th Amendment to oppose Trump's executive order banning "sanctuary cities." They argued that the federal government cannot force states and cities to enforce federal immigration laws, and that it violates the principle of federalism.

Question 3

When the Trump administration decided to withdraw from the Paris climate change accords, California's Democratic Governor, Jerry Brown, pledged to __________the president's decision.

Accepted Answer

The word "pledged" indicates that Governor Brown promised to take action against the president's decision. Of the choices given, "resist" is the only one that implies opposition or pushback against the decision. "Support" would suggest agreement with the decision, while "ignore" and "In fact, the governor pledged nothing" both indicate a lack of action or response.

Question 4

Federalism allocates and limits __________and __________between levels of government.

Accepted Answer

Federalism promotes a division of powers between the national and state governments, which limits the concentration of political power in any one entity. It also allocates responsibility for specific policy areas to different levels of government. This helps to prevent an overload of responsibility for any one level of government, thereby promoting a better distribution of resources and reducing the likelihood of corruption or other abuses of power. Liberty and individual rights are important concepts in federalism, but they are not the primary focus of the system itself.

Question 5

What were the old models of government that the Founders rejected at the Constitutional Convention of 1787?

Accepted Answer

The Founders rejected the confederation model, as seen in the Articles of Confederation, due to its weak central government. They also rejected the unitary model, where all power is centralized, seeking instead a balance through federalism.

Question 6

At the Constitutional Convention of 1787, which two ideas laid open the possibility that within a single territory there might be two sets of governments and two sets of public officials assigned clear and specific responsibilities and powers?

Accepted Answer

Constitutionalism and limited government are the ideas that laid open the possibility of having two sets of governments and officials with clear responsibilities and powers within a single territory. Constitutionalism involves the principle that government can and should be legally limited in its powers, and that its authority depends on its observing these limitations. Limited government is a concept closely related, emphasizing that the government's powers are restricted by law or a constitution, typically to protect individual rights. Together, these principles underpin the structure of federalism, where power is divided between a central government and regional or state governments, each with its own responsibilities and powers.

Question 7

Throughout the history of American federalism, tension has existed between __________and ___ .

Accepted Answer

The answer of Throughout the history of American federalism, tension...

Question 8

President Bush's policies associated with his devolution federalism were __________when __________strained state budgets.

Accepted Answer

The answer of President Bush's policies associated with his devolution...

Question 9

The Supremacy Clause declares that the national government within its area of legitimate authority is supreme over the state constitutions and laws.

Accepted Answer

The Supremacy Clause, found in Article VI, Section 2 of the U.S. Constitution, establishes that federal law is the supreme law of the land and takes precedence over any state laws or constitutional provisions that conflict with it.

Question 10

When federal and state laws conflict, federal laws always prevail over state laws.

Accepted Answer

The answer of When federal and state laws conflict, federal...

Question 11

Formal nullification refers to the state government declaring an act of Congress void and the federal courts upholding that claim under the "reserved rights" of the states in the Tenth Amendment.

Accepted Answer

Formal nullification is the process whereby the state government declares an act of Congress void and the federal courts uphold that claim under the "reserved rights" of the states in the Tenth Amendment.

Question 12

Informal nullification refers to the state legislatures passing contrary laws or declining to enforce federal mandates or the public demonstrating an unwillingness to comply.

Accepted Answer

Informal nullification refers to the state legislatures passing contrary laws or declining to enforce federal mandates or the public demonstrating an unwillingness to comply, which is a true statement.

Question 13

A federal system divides political power and responsibility between national and subnational levels of government.

Accepted Answer

A federal system does indeed divide political power and responsibility between national and subnational levels of government. This can also be referred to as a decentralized system of governance. Examples of countries with a federal system include the United States, Canada, and Australia.

Question 14

The fundamental logic of American federalism is that the states possess complete power over matters not delegated to the national government and not denied them by the U.S. Constitution or by their own state constitutions.

Accepted Answer

This statement accurately reflects the concept of American federalism, which divides power between the national government and the states. The Tenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution reinforces this principle by stating that any powers not specifically given to the federal government and not prohibited to the states are reserved for the states or the people.

Question 15

S. Constitution permits the states to enter into treaties or alliances with each other and with foreign powers.

Accepted Answer

The U.S. Constitution explicitly prohibits states from entering into treaties, alliances, or confederations, reserving this power solely for the federal government.

Question 16

According to Art. IV, section 3, of the U.S. Constitution, Congress may change the boundaries of the states without their permission.

Accepted Answer

Art. IV, section 3, of the U.S. Constitution requires the consent of the legislatures of the states concerned as well as of Congress to change state boundaries.

Question 17

The broad result of the Marbury decision was to establish the Supreme Court as the final arbiter of what is and is not constitutional.

Accepted Answer

The Marbury decision established the principle of judicial review, giving the Supreme Court the authority to strike down laws that are deemed unconstitutional. This established the Supreme Court as the final arbiter of constitutional interpretation.

Question 18

The idea of the Constitution as a compact from which states might secede was a casualty of the Civil War.

Accepted Answer

The Civil War established the doctrine that states do not have the right to secede from the Union. Prior to the war, there was a debate over whether the Constitution was a compact among the states or a creation of the people as a whole. The secession of southern states and the ensuing conflict demonstrated that the Union was stronger than any individual state and that secession was not a viable option for resolving political disagreements.

Question 19

The Commerce Clause has been used by Congress to justify the federal government's expansion of police powers.

Accepted Answer

The Commerce Clause has been interpreted by the Supreme Court to give Congress broad authority to regulate areas of economic activity, which has led to the expansion of federal police powers in certain areas such as drug enforcement and environmental regulation.

Question 20

The Civil War destroyed secession as a practical idea within the American political system.

Accepted Answer

The Civil War resulted in the defeat of the Confederacy and enforcement of federal authority over all states, effectively ending the possibility of secession as a valid political option in the United States.

Quiz 2: Federalism and the American Constitutional Order