Question 1

Which clause in the Constitution prevents a state such as Florida from prohibiting legal residents of other states from buying property in Florida?

Accepted Answer

The privileges and immunities clause of Article IV, Section 2 prevents a state from discriminating against citizens of other states who are legal residents. This includes the right of citizens to own property in any state they choose.

Question 2

Two or more states reach a legally binding agreement about how to solve a problem that crosses state lines through:

Accepted Answer

A compact is a legally binding agreement between two or more states that addresses a specific issue or problem that affects all parties involved. It is a formal agreement that is legally binding and enforceable, and it can cover a wide range of issues, such as transportation, environmental protection, and emergency management. Treaties are usually between countries or international organizations, while a compact is specifically between states within a country. Statutory bargain and multistate pact are not commonly used terms for this type of agreement, and interstate accords is a general term that could apply to any sort of agreement between states.

Question 3

In the late nineteenth century,why was the Supreme Court willing to allow federal regulation of railroads and waterway transportation but less willing to allow regulation of factory and workplace safety?

Accepted Answer

The Supreme Court was willing to allow federal regulation of railroads and waterway transportation because these activities involved commerce between states (interstate commerce) and therefore fell under the jurisdiction of the federal government. However, the Court was less willing to allow regulation of workplace safety because the production of goods in a factory or workplace was considered local and had not yet crossed state lines. Therefore, the regulation of workplace safety was seen as falling under the jurisdiction of the individual states, rather than the federal government.

Question 4

Imagine you are a resident of California and have a California driver's license.If you decide to take a road trip to Arizona,which clause of the Constitution requires Arizona to recognize your California driver's license?

Accepted Answer

The full faith and credit clause (Article IV, Section 1) requires states to recognize and honor the public acts, records, and judicial proceedings of other states. This includes recognizing and honoring driver's licenses issued by other states, such as a California driver's license being recognized by Arizona.

Question 5

The state of Michigan passed a law that allowed wineries within the state to ship wine directly to Michigan consumers without having to go through a wholesaler.The same law prohibited out-of-state wineries from doing the same.In effect,the cost of out-of-state wine increased as it had to go through a wholesaler,thereby providing incentives for Michigan consumers to purchase Michigan wine.However,in 2005,the Supreme Court ruled in Granholm v.Heald that the law was unconstitutional as it discriminated against out-of-state wineries.Which clause of the Constitution was used to declare the Michigan law unconstitutional?

Accepted Answer

The commerce clause of the Constitution grants Congress the power to regulate interstate commerce, while the privileges and immunities clause prohibits discrimination between residents and non-residents of a state. In this case, the Michigan law discriminated against out-of-state wineries, which violated the privileges and immunities clause. Additionally, the law affected the commerce of out-of-state wineries, making it unconstitutional under the commerce clause. The Supreme Court used both clauses to declare the Michigan law unconstitutional in Granholm v. Heald.

Question 6

Article IV,Section 2,of the Constitution prohibits a state from discriminating against someone from another state or giving special advantages to its own residents.That section is referred to as the ________ clause.

Accepted Answer

The Privileges and Immunities clause in Article IV, Section 2 of the Constitution prohibits discrimination against out-of-state residents and gives them the same privileges and immunities as residents of that state. This clause promotes equal treatment and fairness among all citizens, regardless of which state they reside in.

Question 7

In a federal system,the fifty state governments retain sovereignty,which prevents the federal government from interfering in the financial matters of states.However,state governments can become involved in the fiscal matters of local governments,which is most recently evident in the state takeover of the city finances of Harrisburg,Pennsylvania,and Detroit,Michigan.Why can state governments interfere in the fiscal matters of local governments,but the federal government cannot interfere in the fiscal matters of state governments?

Accepted Answer

The answer of In a federal system,the fifty state governments...

Question 8

Article IV of the U.S.Constitution calls for "full faith and credit," meaning that:

Accepted Answer

"Full faith and credit" refers to the legal recognition and enforcement of the public acts, records, and judicial proceedings of other states. This means that each state is expected to honor the laws and legal decisions made in other states, ensuring a degree of consistency and continuity across state borders.

Question 9

While several states,including Massachusetts and New York,have allowed same-sex marriage,other states have historically not been required to recognize those marriages because of:

Accepted Answer

The Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) allowed states to refuse to recognize same-sex marriages performed in other states. While DOMA has since been struck down, its previous impact has allowed certain states to not recognize same-sex marriages performed in other states.

Question 10

Late in the nineteenth century,when the national government sought to use its power to regulate the economy rather than merely promote economic development,the concept of interstate commerce began to operate more as a:

Accepted Answer

As the national government began to regulate the economy, the concept of interstate commerce would have acted more as a barrier than a catalyst or stimulus. This is because the government's ability to regulate commerce between states could potentially create barriers to economic activity and trade between states. The concept of interstate commerce also became a point of leverage for the national government to exert control over economic activity within the states, making option D a possible choice as well. However, option B more directly reflects the potential impact on commerce between states. Option E is not the best choice as it does not fully capture the role of interstate commerce in the context of regulating the economy.

Question 11

If a couple marries in Texas as regulated by state law,then Missouri must also recognize that marriage even though they were not married under Missouri state law;this is according to the ________ clause.

Accepted Answer

The full faith and credit clause of the U.S. Constitution requires states to honor the legal acts, records, and judicial proceedings of other states. This includes recognizing marriages performed in other states, even if those marriages were performed under different laws than those of the recognizing state.

Question 12

A system of government in which fundamental governmental powers are shared between the federal and state governments and in which the states exercise the most important powers is known as:

Accepted Answer

Dual federalism, also known as layer cake federalism, is a system of government in which the federal and state governments have their own separate powers and responsibilities, with limited overlap. This means that the state governments have more control over issues such as education, law enforcement, and public health, while the federal government is responsible for issues such as national defense, foreign relations, and interstate commerce. This system of government was prevalent in the United States from the late 18th century until the mid-20th century, and was based on the idea that the federal government and the state governments were both sovereign and independent.

Question 13

A prisoner convicted of murder and facing the death penalty in the state of Texas escapes but is later recaptured by authorities in the state of Vermont.Unlike Texas,Vermont does not have the death penalty.In this case,the state of Vermont is required to:

Accepted Answer

Since the prisoner was convicted and sentenced in the state of Texas, Vermont is required to return the convict to Texas for further punishment or sentencing.

Question 14

The commerce clause of the Constitution gives the federal government power to:

Accepted Answer

The commerce clause empowers the federal government to regulate interstate commerce and commerce with foreign nations. This has been interpreted broadly by the Supreme Court, giving the federal government significant power over economic activity in the United States.

Question 15

Well into the twentieth century,most efforts by Congress to regulate commerce were blocked by the Supreme Court's interpretation of federalism,with the primary barrier being the concept of:

Accepted Answer

The primary barrier to Congress' attempts to regulate commerce was the Supreme Court's interpretation of federalism, specifically the concept of interstate commerce. The Court had limited Congress' power to regulate commerce to only instances that directly involved interstate commerce, and not purely intrastate commerce. This limited Congress' ability to regulate many areas of the economy, including labor practices and environmental regulations. However, with the New Deal era, the Court eventually shifted its interpretation and expanded Congress' power to regulate commerce.

Question 16

The system of government that prevailed in the United States from the writing of the Constitution to approximately the Great Depression could be most accurately characterized as ________ federalism.

Accepted Answer

Dual federalism was the dominant model of federalism in the United States from the founding of the Constitution until the New Deal era in the 1930s. This model emphasized a clear separation of powers between the national and state governments, with each level of government exercising its own distinct sphere of authority. The national government was responsible for issues like foreign policy, defense, and interstate commerce, while the states retained primary control over areas like education, criminal law, and property rights. This model was characterized by a strong emphasis on state sovereignty and a limited role for the national government in domestic affairs.

Question 17

Over the course of American history,how has the Supreme Court interpreted the interstate commerce clause of Article I,Section 8?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Over the course of American history,how has...

Question 18

Each state is normally expected to honor "the public Acts,Records,and judicial Proceedings" that take place in any other state because of Article IV,Section 1,of the Constitution,which is referred to as the ________ clause.

Accepted Answer

The phrase "public Acts, Records, and judicial Proceedings" is commonly referred to as the full faith and credit clause, which is found in Article IV, Section 1 of the Constitution. It requires states to honor the official acts of other states, including court decisions, public records, and legislative acts. This helps to ensure that legal judgments and documentation are recognized and enforced across state lines.

Question 19

The first and most important Supreme Court case favoring national power over the economy was:

Accepted Answer

McCulloch v. Maryland (1819) established the principle of implied powers, which gave Congress the ability to enact laws not specifically listed in the Constitution but necessary to carry out its enumerated powers. This case also upheld the constitutionality of the Bank of the United States, which was opposed by some states, including Maryland. The ruling in McCulloch v. Maryland strengthened the power of the federal government over state governments and their ability to regulate economic affairs.

Question 20

The power delegated by the state to a local unit of government to manage its own affairs is called:

Accepted Answer

Home rule is the power delegated by the state to a local unit of government to manage its own affairs, including the ability to pass and enforce laws, regulations, and ordinances, without interference from higher levels of government. The other options do not accurately describe this concept.

Quiz 3: Federalism and the Separation of Powers