Deck 3: Federalism

Question 1

The set of interactions among national,state,and local governments is called

A)pluralism.
B)bicameralism.
C)hyperpluralism.
D)intergovernmental relations.
E)international relations.

Answer 1

D

Question 2

Fiscal federalism is

A)the pattern of spending,taxing,and providing grants in the federal system.
B)the distinct separation of national government spending versus state and local government spending.
C)the federal government's regulation of the money supply and interest rates.
D)the federal income tax.
E)a sharing of local and national resources practiced in other countries but not in the United States.

Answer 2

A

Question 3

Since the mid-1990s,Republicans in Congress have taken a pragmatic approach to federalism evidenced by

A)efforts to restrict state power while turning to the federal government in policy areas such as environmental regulation,immigration,and health.
B)legislation removing class action lawsuits from state courts.
C)passage of the No Child Left Behind Act.
D)extending federal criminal penalties.
E)All of these are evidence of Republicans' pragmatic approach.

Answer 3

E

Question 4

The Tenth Amendment is sometimes referred to as the _____________amendment.

A)states' rights
B)implied powers
C)delegated powers
D)necessary and proper
E)Prohibition

Question 5

Over time,there has been a gradual change from a dual federalism to a(n)________ federalism.

A)unitary
B)single
C)tripartite
D)cooperative
E)fiscal

Question 6

On the whole,federal grant distribution follows the principle of

A)universalism.
B)stinginess.
C)cronyism.
D)to the victors go the spoils.
E)needs testing.

Question 7

According to Democracy in America,the rapid growth of the national government is largely due to the fact that

A)the diversity of interests within and among the states requires a national focus.
B)states are constitutionally prohibited from maintaining independent defense forces and policies.
C)the states have failed to adequately represent their interests.
D)the Constitution requires that most programs be administered by the national government.
E)most problems and policies require the authority and resources of the national government.

Question 8

Funding for the interstate highway system is an example of

A)dual federalism.
B)cooperative federalism.
C)tripartite federalism.
D)a unitary system of government.
E)national federalism.

Question 9

In the early part of American history,cooperative federalism characterized intergovernmental relations; the course of the twentieth century,in contrast,is primarily characterized by dual federalism.

Question 10

All of the following areas provide examples of how federalism decentralizes our policies EXCEPT

A)the federal income tax.
B)the regulation of abortion.
C)the death penalty.
D)the funding of education.
E)environmental protection.

Question 11

The notion that a citizen of one state receives the privileges and immunities of any other state is the notion that states cannot discriminate against citizens of other states.

Question 12

Which of the following is TRUE of fiscal federalism?

A)The proportion of the gross domestic product spent by state and local governments has grown more rapidly than the proportion of the GDP spent by the national government
B)The proportion of the gross domestic product spent by state and local government has grown less rapidly than the proportion of the GDP spent by the national government.
C)States and localities spent 7.4 percent of our GDP in 1929; today they spend even less.
D)Block grants are the main source of federal aid to state and local governments.
E)Unlike the federal government,federal courts do not have the ability to impose mandates on state governments.

Question 13

The supremacy clause

A)establishes the Constitution,laws of the national government,and treaties as the supreme law of the land.
B)establishes the Supreme Court as the final arbiter in all civil and criminal disputes.
C)declares that the national government is superior to the states in every concern.
D)states that powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution,nor prohibited by the states,are reserved to the states.
E)states that the people are the supreme authority in the United States and that the government shall be subservient to them.

Question 14

In our federal system,the powers of the state governments are ultimately granted by

A)their state's Supreme Court.
B)the people of their state.
C)their state legislature.
D)the United States Constitution.
E)the United States government.

Question 15

A marriage license issued in one state is valid and honored in all states under the constitutional provision of

A)separation of powers.
B)full faith and credit.
C)national supremacy.
D)national licensure.
E)privileges and immunities.

Question 16

In McCulloch v.Maryland (1819),Chief Justice Marshall argued that

A)in cases of conflict between national and state law,the national law was supreme as long as national law was in accordance with the Constitution.
B)the national government has implied powers that go beyond those explicitly enumerated in Article I,Section 8.
C)Congress' enumerated power to coin money,regulate its value,and impose taxes implied the right of Congress to do whatever was necessary and proper for carrying out these powers,including the power to create a bank.
D)Maryland could not tax the national bank.
E)All of the above were argued by Marshall.

Question 17

In Gibbons v.Ogden,the Supreme Court ruled that national government's power to regulate interstate commerce encompasses virtually every form of commercial activity.

Question 18

Federalism is a way of organizing a nation so that

A)power is centralized in state and local government.
B)both national and state levels of government have some authority over the same land and people.
C)there is one federal government,and all regional governments are administrative subunits of it.
D)power is centralized in the national government.
E)there are three branches of government and a system of checks and balances.

Question 19

Which of the following is one way that federalism may have a negative effect on democracy?

A)Federalism may increase inequities between and among states.
B)Federalism tends to increase conflict at the national level.
C)Federalism tends to decrease opportunities for citizens to participate in government.
D)Federalism may encourage electoral dissent.
E)None of these is an example of how federalism may have a negative effect on democracy.

Question 20

The Constitution states that Congress has the power to establish post offices.This is an example of

A)enumerated powers.
B)delegated powers.
C)implied powers.
D)reserved powers.
E)shared powers.

Question 21

The national government's share of American governmental expenditures has declined over the course of the twentieth century.

Question 22

Federalism creates more layers of government and more opportunities for political participation.

Question 23

Which of the following is an example of a confederation?

A)State governments in the United States
B)The United Nations
C)OPEC
D)Britain
E)France

Question 24

A unitary government is

A)the type of government found in the United States.
B)a government in which all power resides in a central government.
C)a government in which power is divided between a central government and regional governments.
D)a government in which power resides in regional or state governments.
E)the least common form of national government across the globe.

Question 25

Which of the following was NOT among the reasons the Framers adopted a federal system when they wrote the Constitution?

A)The confederation had clearly failed in managing the country's problems.
B)The population was too dispersed for a unitary system to work.
C)Americans' loyalty to state governments was stronger than it was to the United States.
D)America had always had a federal system,and it would have been too radical and disruptive a change to adopt another system.
E)The country's transportation and communication systems were too primitive for a unitary government to work.

Question 26

The Constitution grants the power to directly regulate such things as drinking ages,marriage and divorce,and sexual behavior to

A)all governments by the Bill of Rights.
B)the national government.
C)the president.
D)state governments.
E)both the state and national governments.

Question 27

There are close to 90,000 governments in the United States.

Question 28

Almost every policy the national government has adopted has originated with

A)the Senate.
B)the states.
C)the House of Representatives.
D)the Supreme Court.
E)the president.

Question 29

The landmark case in which the Supreme Court interpreted Article I,Section 8 such that Congress was given the power to regulate interstate commerce in a way that encompasses virtually all forms of commercial activity was

A)McCulloch v. Maryland.
B)U.S. v Lopez.
C)Gibbons v. Odgen.
D)Mack v. United States.
E)Printz v. United States.

Question 30

Diversity in the context of federalism is one factor that encourages states to provide a greater number of services to their citizens compared to other states.

Question 31

Fiscal federalism refers to a transferring of responsibility for public policy from the federal government to state and local governments.

Question 32

The Constitution's supremacy clause

A)does not apply to state and local matters.
B)gives the states superiority over the national government's Constitution and laws.
C)made the Constitution,the laws of the national government,and the national government's treaties the supreme law of the land.
D)is vague about which level of government should prevail in a dispute involving federalism.
E)makes the president supreme in any constitutional conflicts with the other two branches.

Question 33

Which of the following statements is TRUE when it comes to types of governments?

A)The American states have unitary governments.
B)Federalism is the typical way nations organize their governments.
C)Great Britain has a federal system.
D)Most European countries are confederations.
E)None of the above is true.

Question 34

Which of the following is often seen as a benefit of federalism,according to your textbook?

A)It encourages hyperpluralism.
B)It allows states to function as laboratories of democracy,or policy innovators.
C)It creates conflict between national and state governments.
D)It creates more opportunities for interest groups to wield influence.
E)Both a and d are often seen as benefits of federalism.

Question 35

According to the ______ of Article IV of the U.S.Constitution,the Constitution,the laws of the national government,and treaties constitute the supreme law of the land.

A)implied powers clause
B)elastic clause
C)necessary and proper clause
D)supremacy clause
E)Tenth Amendment

Question 36

Which of the following is NOT true when it comes to federalism?

A)Few countries have federal systems.
B)Most federal systems are democracies.
C)Authoritarian regimes generally do not use federalist systems.
D)No unitary governments are democratic.
E)Only some democracies use federal systems.

Question 37

The primary source of federal aid to state and local governments is categorical grants.

Question 38

Powers of the federal government that are not explicitly listed but instead are inferred from the necessary and proper clause are called ____ powers.

A)enumerated
B)implied
C)inherent
D)dominant
E)federalist

Question 39

The government's failed response to Hurricane Katrina illustrates the problems that can arise when unfunded mandates are paired with insufficient funds for states.

Question 40

The fact that the legal drinking age is 21 across the 50 United States is a good example of

A)the weakness of the states compared to the federal government.
B)the tendency for the federal government to ignore state police powers.
C)the influence the national government can wield over state governments through the withholding of federal funds,despite state police powers.
D)the ability of the federal government to get around limitations on its power as set forth in the Tenth Amendment.
E)centralized public policy making.

Question 41

Enumerated powers are those that are

A)reserved for the states.
B)stated in the Constitution.
C)implied in the Constitution.
D)involving money matters.
E)granted specifically to the president.

Question 42

The principle of the supremacy of federal law over state law was affirmed in

A)Marbury v. Madison.
B)the Tenth Amendment.
C)United States v. Darby.
D)McCulloch v. Maryland.
E)the presidential election of 1804.

Question 43

Which of the following is TRUE of the Constitution?

A)It created obligations of the national government toward the state,including the obligation to protect states from invasion.
B)It established states as vital components of the machinery of government.
C)It guaranteed states equal representation in the Senate.
D)It guaranteed the continuation of each state by forbidding Congress to create new states by dividing existing states without the approval of the existing state.
E)All of these are true of the Constitution.

Question 44

The Defense of Marriage Act

A)permits states to disregard same-sex marriages or civil unions of same-sex partners issued in other states.
B)prohibits states from issuing same-sex marriages or civil unions to same-sex partners.
C)requires states to issue same-sex marriages and civil unions to same-sex partners.
D)requires states to recognize same-sex marriage or civil unions issued in other states for same-sex partners.
E)requires states to provide the same rights to same-sex couples that they provide to heterosexual couples.

Question 45

The Court's decision in United States v.Morrison (2000)was significant because it

A)limited Congress' use of its interstate commerce powers.
B)ruled that Congress did not have the power to enact the 1994 Violence Against Women Act.
C)established a firm set of guidelines for applying Congress' commerce powers.
D)Both a and b are true.
E)Both a and c are true.

Question 46

The Supreme Court case of Printz v.United States

A)enhanced the powers of Congress by expanding its interpretation of commerce.
B)denied Congress the power of regulating guns in school zones.
C)voided the congressional mandate in the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act requiring local community officials to conduct background checks on prospective gun purchasers.
D)affirmed the provisions of the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act.
E)None of the above is true.

Question 47

In the events leading up to McCulloch v.Maryland (1819),what was the main criticism of the national bank created by the United States government?

A)It was printing too much worthless paper money that debtors were using to pay off their debts.
B)It was charging exorbitant interest rates on its loans.
C)It was borrowing too much money,putting the United States government hopelessly in debt.
D)It was an instrument of the elite and gave the national government too much control of the economy.
E)It did not efficiently distribute money to the states.

Question 48

The Tenth Amendment

A)declares that the national government is superior to the states in every concern.
B)establishes the Constitution,laws of the national government,and treaties as the supreme law of the land.
C)establishes the Supreme Court as the final arbiter in all civil and criminal disputes.
D)establishes the number of electoral votes each state can cast in the Electoral College.
E)states that powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution,nor prohibited by the states,are reserved for the states.

Question 49

In the Constitution,the powers to coin money,to enter into treaties,and to regulate commerce with foreign nations and among the states were given to

A)neither the individual states nor the national government.
B)the national government.
C)the individual states.
D)the Senate only.
E)both the individual states and the national government.

Question 50

The enumerated powers of Congress and the national government are those

A)specifically spelled out in the Constitution.
B)set out in the first ten amendments.
C)involving taxes,spending,and fiscal policy.
D)not specifically spelled out in the Constitution,but nonetheless acknowledged.
E)requiring ratification by the states.

Question 51

Cooperative federalism refers to a system in which

A)the national government and the state governments share powers and policy assignments.
B)the national government and the state governments have clearly defined,distinct powers and policy assignments.
C)the national government reigns supreme over the state governments.
D)the state governments reign supreme over the national government.
E)None of the above is true.

Question 52

Federal policies to regulate food and drugs,build interstate highways,protect consumers,try to clean up dirty air and water,and do many other things are all justified as ________ of Congress.

A)implied powers
B)categorical grants
C)constitutionally specified powers
D)reserved powers
E)enumerated powers

Question 53

The Constitution's provision that Congress has the right to "make all laws necessary and proper for carrying into execution" its powers is often referred to as the

A)enumerated powers.
B)heart of fiscal federalism.
C)Unwritten Amendment.
D)elastic clause.
E)privileges and immunities.

Question 54

Only the national government is allowed to

A)levy taxes.
B)regulate commerce with foreign nations.
C)take private property for public purposes.
D)make and enforce laws.
E)Only the national government is allowed to do all of these.

Question 55

The Supreme Court case of McCulloch v.Maryland (1819)

A)established Baltimore as the capital of Maryland.
B)stated that the Constitution gave Congress implied powers.
C)established the principle of judicial review.
D)established the supremacy of state governments.
E)recognized that Congress was limited to its enumerated powers.

Question 56

The McCulloch v.Maryland case dealt with what specific grievance?

A)A state taxing a national bank
B)Toll bridges on interstate roads
C)The location of Maryland's capital city
D)A state coining its own money
E)Import taxes on goods made in other states

Question 57

Which of the following is TRUE of intergovernmental relations in the United States over the past two centuries?

A)There has been a gradual shift from dual federalism to cooperative federalism.
B)There is a greater sharing of powers between the national and state governments.
C)There has been an increase in federal grants-in-aid to the states and localities from the national government.
D)Intergovernmental relations are increasingly characterized by fiscal federalism.
E)All of these are true of intergovernmental relations in the United States over the past two centuries.

Question 58

In determining the power of Congress to regulate commerce in the case of Gibbons v.Ogden (1824),the Supreme Court

A)prohibited Congress from regulating business activity on the grounds it violated private property rights.
B)listed the implied powers of Congress and the national government.
C)defined commerce very narrowly in considering the right of Congress to regulate it.
D)listed the enumerated powers of Congress and the national government.
E)defined commerce very broadly,encompassing virtually every form of commercial activity.

Question 59

In U.S.v.Lopez (1995),the Supreme Court held that the Gun Free School Zone Act was a(n)

A)constitutional extension of Congress' interstate commerce power.
B)constitutional and implied power of Congress.
C)constitutional under Congress' commerce power due to the economic impact of gun possession.
D)unconstitutional because it exceeded Congress' constitutional authority to regulate commerce.
E)unconstitutional because it violated the Second Amendment's guarantee to bear arms.

Question 60

The national government has exclusive control over foreign and military policy,the postal system,and monetary policy,while the states have exclusive control over other specific areas.This division of responsibilities reflects

A)dual federalism.
B)divided government.
C)tripartite federalism.
D)cooperative federalism.
E)fiscal federalism.

Question 61

The main instrument the national government uses to influence state governments is

A)grants-in-aid.
B)mandates.
C)judicial review.
D)the Tenth Amendment.
E)presidential decrees.

Question 62

Most nations of the world have federal systems.

Question 63

In 1929,the federal government spent an amount equal to _____ of the size of the economy,the gross domestic product (GDP); today,the national government spends _____ of our GDP.

A)2 percent; 5 percent
B)2.5 percent; 21 percent
C)21 percent; 2.5 percent
D)25 percent; 50 percent
E)50 percent; 25 percent

Question 64

Devolution refers to

A)transferring responsibility for policies from the state governments to the national government.
B)transferring responsibility for policies from the national government to state governments.
C)returning to the politics of nineteenth-century federalism.
D)unwinding federalism and moving toward a unitary system.
E)a movement among liberal activist judges to expand Congress' interstate commerce power.

Question 65

Grants for specific programs distributed according to community demographic factors,such as population or income,are

A)formula grants.
B)categorical grants.
C)revenue-sharing grants.
D)project grants.
E)block grants.

Question 66

Federal support for public education is an example of a

A)pragmatic federalism.
B)dual federalism.
C)cooperative federalism.
D)layer cake federalism.
E)separation of powers.

Question 67

The principal type of federal aid for states and localities is

A)categorical grants.
B)disaster loans.
C)revenue sharing.
D)block grants.
E)urban renewal grants.

Question 68

The transferring of responsibility for policies from the federal government to the states is

A)devolution.
B)evolution.
C)intergovernmental relations.
D)pluralism.
E)fiscal federalism.

Question 69

Recent Census Bureau estimates report that there are approximately ______ American governments.

A)51
B)1,000
C)5,000
D)15,000
E)90,000

Question 70

The federal government is the first responder in most emergencies.

Question 71

Withholding federal funds from states that do not raise the legal drinking age to 21 is an example of a(n)

A)crossover sanction.
B)unfunded mandate.
C)project grant.
D)formula grant.
E)crosscutting requirement.

Question 72

The No Child Left Behind Act of 2002 is an example of

A)policy constructed under conditions of cooperative federalism.
B)dual federalism in action.
C)policy devolution.
D)a categorical grant
E)a block grant.

Question 73

Which of the following is a way that federalism contributes to democracy?

A)By decentralizing the political system,federalism creates more opportunities for political participation.
B)By centralizing the political system,federalism protects the political system from the whims of the masses.
C)By decreasing the number of units of government,federalism reduces citizen access to government and public policy.
D)By ensuring that all states provide the same levels of services to their citizens,federalism ensures equality in a democracy.
E)None of these is a way that federalism contributes to democracy.

Question 74

Standard operating procedures in cooperative federalism include each of the following EXCEPT

A)shared administration.
B)shared costs.
C)federal funding with no strings attached.
D)federal guidelines.
E)categorical and block grants.

Question 75

Which of the following is true of changes in the scope of government under federalism?

A)State governments carry out virtually all of the functions they always have,while the national government has taken on new functions.
B)The national government has taken away nearly all of the functions of the states.
C)The national government has taken about one-half of the functions of state government.
D)There has been a sharp decline in the proportion of gross national product spent by states and localities.
E)State policy functions have been fully assumed by the national government.

Question 76

Over the past generation,the percentage of federal grants devoted to _____ has increased substantially.

A)health care
B)income security
C)education and training
D)transportation
E)defense

Question 77

The most common type of categorical grant is

A)A block grant.
B)a rescission fund.
C)A project grant.
D)disaster relief.
E)revenue sharing.

Question 78

Grants that are given more or less automatically to states or communities,which have discretion in deciding how to spend the money,are called

A)project grants.
B)discretionary grants.
C)formula grants.
D)categorical grants.
E)block grants.

Question 79

When Congress passes a law creating financial obligations for the states but provides no funds for states to meet those obligations,it is called a(n)

A)crossover sanction.
B)crosscutting requirement.
C)unfunded mandate.
D)categorical grant.
E)block grant.

Question 80

Which of the following helps explain the failed government response to Hurricane Katrina?

A)State and local officials assumed Washington would provide rapid and substantial aid,but leaders in Louisiana and New Orleans were not always sure what they needed.
B)Open-ended pleas for help from state and local officials were hard for federal officials to interpret.
C)Fractured division of responsibility meant that no one person or agency was in charge.
D)The governor was reluctant to "federalize" the Louisiana National Guard because she feared losing authority over it and lacked confidence in the national government.
E)All of these help explain the failed government response to Hurricane Katrina.