Deck 3: Federalism and Intergovernmental Relations

Question 1

Gaming is not subject to federal regulation (outside of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act). Why might this be so? Why would states want to retain jurisdiction over the gaming industry?

Answer 1

Gaming is not subject to federal regulation outside of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act because of the principle of federalism, which allows states to retain jurisdiction over certain areas of law and regulation. This means that states have the authority to regulate gaming within their borders, including the operation of casinos, lotteries, and other forms of gambling.

States may want to retain jurisdiction over the gaming industry for a few reasons. First, they may see it as a source of revenue and economic development, and want to have control over how it is managed and operated within their borders. Second, states may have different cultural and moral attitudes towards gambling, and want to be able to regulate it in a way that reflects the values of their residents. Finally, states may want to have the ability to tailor regulations to address specific issues or concerns that are unique to their state.

Overall, states have a vested interest in retaining jurisdiction over the gaming industry in order to have control over its operation and regulation within their borders.

Question 2

Does anyone really believe in federalism? Provide examples of how both parties use or ignore federalism for political ends. (See Federalist No. 39 for the Founders' idea of federalism.)

Answer 2

Federalism, the division of power between a central government and individual states, has been a foundational principle of the United States since its founding. In Federalist No. 39, James Madison outlined the Founders' idea of federalism as a system in which both the national government and the state governments derive their powers directly from the people and operate independently in their respective spheres.

In modern politics, the belief in federalism varies among individuals and political parties. Some people strongly believe in the importance of states' rights and limited federal government intervention, while others advocate for a stronger central government with more authority over state matters.

Both political parties have used and ignored federalism for their own political ends. For example, Republicans often champion states' rights and advocate for limited federal government intervention in areas such as healthcare, education, and environmental regulations. They argue that states should have the freedom to make their own decisions based on the needs and values of their citizens.

On the other hand, Democrats have been known to support a more centralized approach to governance, particularly in areas such as civil rights, environmental protection, and healthcare. They argue that a strong federal government is necessary to ensure equal rights and protections for all citizens, regardless of which state they live in.

However, both parties have also been accused of ignoring federalism when it suits their political agendas. For example, Republicans have been criticized for supporting federal intervention in areas such as immigration and drug enforcement, while Democrats have faced criticism for attempting to impose federal regulations on issues traditionally left to the states, such as gun control and voting laws.

In conclusion, the belief in federalism is a complex and often contentious issue in American politics. While both parties may use or ignore federalism for their own political ends, the Founders' idea of federalism as a system of shared powers between the national and state governments continues to be a fundamental principle of the United States.

Question 3

The regulation of alcohol is left to the states under the Constitution. Yet the federal government in effect requires states to set their legal drinking age at twenty-one. How is this done?

Answer 3

The regulation of alcohol, including the legal drinking age, is indeed primarily left to the individual states under the Tenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, which reserves to the states all powers not delegated to the federal government. However, the federal government has influenced states to set their legal drinking age at twenty-one through the use of a policy known as the National Minimum Drinking Age Act of 1984.
This act was passed by Congress and signed into law by President Ronald Reagan on July 17, 1984. The law does not directly mandate a national legal drinking age of twenty-one, but it does contain a powerful financial incentive for states to comply. The act stipulates that a portion of federal highway funds will be withheld from any state that does not have a minimum legal drinking age of twenty-one. Specifically, states that did not comply would lose 10% of their federal highway funding.
Since highway funding is a significant source of revenue for states, and is crucial for the maintenance and construction of transportation infrastructure, the potential loss of this funding served as a strong incentive for states to align their drinking age laws with the federal standard. As a result, by 1988, all states had raised their minimum legal drinking age to twenty-one.
This use of conditional federal funding to influence state policy is an example of how the federal government can encourage uniformity in certain laws across the states without directly imposing those laws, thus navigating the balance of power between state and federal authority.

Question 4

Some states benefit from federal money transfers, while other states pay the federal government more than they get back. Is this fair? How can we justify this practice?

Question 5

In the case of Kelo v. City of New London (2005), the Supreme Court ruled that local governments can take private property and give it to private businesses for economic development purposes. Do you think this is right?

Question 6

A new focus of the federal grants program under Great Society initiatives such as the Model Cities program was:

A) Enhancing government efficiency
B) Programs with an urban focus
C) Program consolidation
D) Promoting local initiatives

Question 7

The relationship between the state and national governments during cooperative federalism in the mid-twentieth century is best described as:

A) "Distant and cold"
B) "Reforming and evolving"
C) "Cynical and mistrustful"
D) "Allies not enemies"

Question 8

An organized, tax-supported entity that provides ____ is the best example of a special district governmental unit.

A) funding for presidential elections
B) welfare disbursements
C) fire protection services
D) medical services to indigent community members

Question 9

As a consequence of the era of cooperative federalism:

A) Urban governments became more dependent on states for aid
B) The national government began to grant all of its aid to the state governments
C) Cities and local governments began to receive grants directly from the national government
D) The national government reduced its grants-in-aid to city governments

Question 10

As an actor in the federal system, the U.S. citizen plays one role as the consumer of public programs and another role as a person who:

A) Creates the programs
B) Reforms the programs
C) Manages the programs
D) Pays for the programs

Question 11

Before the passage of legislation in 1996, assistance to the poor was:

A) A set of national programs administered by the states
B) Not a federal government concern
C) Regulated by various agencies without state aid
D) Virtually nonexistent

Question 12

Before the passage of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996, there was an unmistakable ____ flavor to the welfare system.

A) local
B) state
C) bureaucratic
D) national

Question 13

Block grants were intended to reform federal relationships by:

A) Increasing the policy requirements attached to national aid
B) Reducing national aid and restoring state responsibility
C) Consolidating categorical grants and increasing recipients' freedom
D) Limiting the role of states and channeling discretion

Question 14

Confrontations over the issue of ____ dominated much of the congressional debate about state versus national government authority in the 1800s.

A) interstate commerce
B) slavery
C) women's suffrage
D) immigration

Question 15

Devolution refers to reform of the federal system that gives:

A) State and local governments less control over federal funds
B) State and local governments more power over important public policies
C) The national government less control over foreign and defense policy
D) The national government more control over state and local affairs

Question 16

During the 1970s through 1990s, a major complaint of state and local officials charged with implementing federal programs was:

A) The lack of federal involvement in state and local government
B) Frequent Supreme Court decisions that altered grant implementation
C) A lack of federal regulation of grant implementation
D) The costly and potentially irrelevant policy mandates attached to grants

Question 17

During the twentieth century, the relationship of national and state governments first changed significantly in response to:

A) World War I
B) The Great Depression
C) The stock market crash of 1929
D) The bombing of Pearl Harbor

Question 18

Federal aid to highways is an example of:

A) General revenue sharing
B) A block grant
C) A categorical grant
D) Dual federalism

Question 19

Federal government regulations require local school districts to provide special facilities for the physically handicapped but provide no money to pay for these facilities. This is an example of:

A) Unitary government
B) Cooperative federalism
C) An unfunded mandate
D) A categorical grant-in-aid

Question 20

Federal grants like the Hill-Burton program, which provides money for healthcare facilities according to population and per capita income factors, are called:

A) Formula grants
B) Matching grants
C) Project grants
D) Categorical grants

Question 21

The Founders who strongly supported limiting the authority of the federal government, as well as allowing states to overrule that authority, included:

A) Hamilton and Washington
B) Jefferson and Madison
C) Marshall and Hamilton
D) Franklin and Adams

Question 22

The grant programs of the 1960s and 1970s were the first to:

A) Nullify Supreme Court decisions
B) Involve state governments in achieving national policy objectives
C) Help state governments fulfill their traditional functions
D) Focus on helping citizens in rural or under-populated areas

Question 23

In 2000, the Supreme Court specifically exempted states from provisions in federal laws aimed at preventing ____ discrimination.

A) age
B) gender
C) racial
D) religious

Question 24

In the notable 2015 case Obergefell v. Hodges, the Supreme Court addressed the issue of:

A) Gun control
B) Gender discrimination
C) Same-sex marriage
D) Abortion

Question 25

In recent years, many public sector interest groups have reconsidered their priorities and are:

A) Increasing their concentration in Washington, D.C.
B) Taking advantage of more federal government funding
C) Focusing more attention on lobbying state governments
D) Increasing advertising on cable networks and blogs

Question 26

In the Gibbons v. Ogden decision, the Supreme Court ruled that:

A) The national government could not regulate interstate commerce
B) The national government could not exercise state government powers
C) A state could not exercise specific national government powers, such as those over interstate commerce
D) A state could not tax an agency of the national government

Question 27

In the nineteenth century, states were able to argue that many of their powers derived from their authority to "advance the safety, happiness, and prosperity" of their citizens. These were called their:

A) Police powers
B) Implied powers
C) Delegated powers
D) Interstate commerce powers

Question 28

In what sense are the states a "pivotal" factor in the federal system?

A) They connect national government resources to local governments and communities
B) They pass taxes and other income sources on from local areas to the national government
C) They have no power to create programs or accept grants
D) They administer federal programs at the local level

Question 29

Initial inroads into the theory and practice of dual federalism were made when the relationship between states and the federal government changed as a result of:

A) Commercial advertising
B) Grant-in-aid programs
C) Litigation involving bankruptcy
D) Executive orders

Question 30

Intergovernmental relations is a system in which:

A) All levels of government are able to intervene on each other's behalf
B) Various levels of government share functions, and each level influences the other
C) Government can intervene in state affairs only through judicial intervention
D) Governmental and state laws are interchangeable

Question 31

Local governments:

A) Range from rich to poor, but all have to deal with the same social problems
B) Deal with a variety of social problems, but have very much the same income
C) Face pretty much the same social and financial problems
D) Deal with very different social and financial conditions

Question 32

Local governments in the United States are creations of:

A) Local referenda
B) State legislatures
C) The Interior Department
D) Regional charters

Question 33

Most of the major changes that have taken place in federalism in the 21^st century have come from:

A) State initiatives and the Supreme Court
B) Presidential orders
C) Government and state interaction
D) New laws enacted after 9/11

Question 34

National money given to state and local governments for general purposes with no specific program objectives and few conditions attached is called:

A) A block grant
B) General revenue sharing
C) A categorical grant
D) A matching grant

Question 35

One of the major changes in intergovernmental relations brought about by President G. W. Bush was:

A) The passage of statewide drug laws
B) The passage of welfare reform legislation
C) The No Child Left Behind Act
D) New legislation on interstate regulations

Question 36

In 1995, Congress passed a law requiring the Congressional Budget Office to highlight any proposals that might result in

A) Tax cuts
B) Unfunded mandates
C) Loss of Congressional budget authority
D) State nullification actions

Question 37

President Reagan's efforts to ____ had a major impact on the federal system.

A) change the type of aid states received
B) limit the amount of aid given to the states and block grant programs
C) increase government control over state aid
D) adjust the way grants-in-aid programs were administered

Question 38

Project grants, begun during the 1930s, were federal funds given to state governments based on:

A) The number of federal projects in the state
B) Population, per capita income, and other factors
C) Submission of a specific plan of action
D) Population and construction capacity

Question 39

Proponents of nation-centered federalism believe that:

A) The national government should have limited authority over state governments
B) All the authority of the national government is detailed explicitly in the Constitution
C) The executive branch should have authority over all other branches of the government
D) The authority of the national government goes beyond that described in the Constitution

Question 40

Supreme Court decisions in the late 1980s began to change the Court's traditional position on federalism by:

A) Increasing state and local government policymaking power
B) Increasing national authority over state governments
C) Decreasing state authority over abortion laws
D) Decreasing the Supreme Court's importance in the federal system

Question 41

In the 1990s, the Bush administration's "War on Drugs" spent $500 million in earmarked federal funds primarily on:

A) Federal law enforcement efforts and foreign aid
B) Efforts to curb drug experimentation in suburban areas
C) The development of DARE and other drug education programs
D) Public service announcements and similar public relations efforts

Question 42

The Morrill Act of 1862, which gave federal land grants for the establishment of state colleges, was an early example of:

A) Grants-in-aid programs
B) Matching grant programs
C) Block grant programs
D) Entitlement programs

Question 43

If the Southern Poverty Law Center were to sue the president, this would be an example of the activities of a(n):

A) Public sector interest group
B) Urban council of government
C) Intergovernmental lobby
D) Federal agency

Question 44

The amount of grant money available declined most significantly during the ____ administration.

A) Nixon
B) Carter
C) Reagan
D) Clinton

Question 45

The Supreme Court decisions in the McCulloch v. Maryland and Gibbons v. Ogden cases:

A) Limited national banking power
B) Agreed that states had delegated constitutional power
C) Gave the national government more power over the states
D) Disagreed about national government control over interstate commerce

Question 46

The effectiveness of block grants is somewhat diminished by the fact that they:

A) Represent only a small portion of the total amount of federal aid flowing to states and localities
B) Are rarely delivered to states and localities in a timely fashion
C) Have increased the amount of paperwork for states and localities
D) Are usually loaded with mandates

Question 47

The effort to bring "faith-based organizations" into the intergovernmental system was part of President ____ domestic agenda.

A) George W. Bush's
B) Ronald Reagan's
C) Gerald Ford's
D) Bill Clinton's

Question 48

The emergence of the intergovernmental relations system in the 1930s was an important development in the history of U.S. federalism because it:

A) Ended shared functions between national and state governments
B) Reestablished a traditional approach to nation-state powers
C) Helped pave the way for participation of more local levels of government
D) Reduced the intervention of the national government in regional and urban affairs.

Question 49

The examples of states taking over local government functions like policing or education illustrate that:

A) Local governments are created by the authority of states
B) Local governments were not created to deal with such functions
C) States frequently violate the constitutional independence of cities
D) States must frequently do the work of the national government

Question 50

The intergovernmental lobby is a(n):

A) Place where government leaders meet to discuss common problems
B) Community of special interests concerned with the operation of the federal system
C) Agency that manages the distribution of resources among different levels of government
D) International organization of federal governments

Question 51

The main argument of the early supporters of state-centered federalism was that the states:

A) Must obey the authority of the federal Constitution
B) Had to be represented in the national government
C) Had the power to create local governments
D) Could overrule national laws

Question 52

In the past, the national government threatened to withhold highway funds from states that:

A) Left highways in poor condition
B) Did not promote carpooling
C) Reduced the amount of funds raised through tolls
D) Did not lower their speed limits to 55 miles per hour

Question 53

The power of eminent domain is usually exercised by:

A) The federal government
B) Local law enforcement officials
C) Foreign governments acting within the borders of the United States
D) Local governments acting within their own communities

Question 54

The principles of federalism were first generally implemented in U.S. government in:

A) The seventeenth century
B) The early eighteenth century
C) 1776
D) 1789

Question 55

The seizure of private property by the government for public purposes requires:

A) Owner approval
B) The approval of both the owners and the tenants
C) That the property be uninhabited
D) Just compensation

Question 56

The term sovereignty is usually applied to the level of government:

A) Where the capitol building is located
B) That makes public policy
C) Where ultimate authority is located
D) That is elected directly by the people

Question 57

The viewpoint of dual federalism is that the national government and state governments:

A) Are allies, not enemies
B) Share all powers cooperatively
C) Have equal and independent powers
D) Compete to control local government

Question 58

There are about ____ local governments in the United States.

A) 5,000
B) 30,000
C) 60,000
D) 90,000

Question 59

Under the myth of state sovereignty, it is assumed that in the U.S. constitutional system:

A) The national government must always defer to the wishes of state government officials
B) States retain ultimate authority over all activities that take place within their borders
C) States retain some degree of autonomy and rights within the constitutional system
D) The national government has authority only in those areas that states grant to it through prior agreement

Question 60

Which of the following lists most accurately identifies the forces that have determined the gains and losses in state power in the federal system?

A) The Supreme Court and public opinion, but not the states' administrative ability
B) Public opinion and the states' own political power, but not the Supreme Court
C) The Supreme Court and the states' own political power, but not public opinion
D) The Supreme Court, public opinion, and the states' administrative ability

Question 61

Which Obama administration initiative created the greatest conflict between the national and state governments?

A) The No Child Left Behind Act
B) The Affordable Care Act
C) The Welfare to Work Act
D) The Patriot Act

Question 62

Which of the following most accurately describes the consequences of federal programs for states during the first Bush administration?

A) Increased federal grant programs made state and local governments more dependent than ever on federal funding
B) Increased state aid to the federal government forced states to cut their budgets and raise taxes
C) Unfunded mandates and cuts in federal grants forced states to cut their budgets and raise taxes
D) Congressional action reduced unfunded mandates and left state and local governments freer to manage their own budgets

Question 63

Which of the following would be an example of Dillon's Rule?

A) The national government building an interstate highway
B) The state of Ohio preventing local governments from legalizing marijuana
C) The city of Santa Fe preventing federal law enforcement officials from detaining undocumented immigrants
D) None of the above

Question 64

The view that the Constitution allows the national government only limited powers and that the states can overrule national laws if they determine that those laws are in violation of the Constitution is called:

A) State-centered federalism
B) Nation-centered federalism
C) Dual federalism
D) Cooperative federalism

Question 65

The view that the authority granted by the Constitution to the national government goes beyond the responsibilities listed in Article I, Section 8, is called:

A) State-centered federalism
B) Nation-centered federalism
C) Dual federalism
D) Cooperative federalism

Question 66

Which version of federalism was in place through the end of the nineteenth century?

A) State-centered federalism
B) Nation-centered federalism
C) Dual federalism
D) Cooperative federalism

Question 67

A lobbying organization that represents the interests of elected officials is a(n):

A) Public sector interest group
B) Executive interest group
C) Government employee union
D) Select interest group

Question 68

The U.S. Conference of Mayors is an example of a(n):

A) Public sector interest group
B) Executive interest group
C) Government employee union
D) Select interest group

Question 69

Jefferson and Madison argued that if a state were to determine that a national law violates the Constitution, the state could overrule that law under the theory of

A) State's rights
B) Nullification
C) Executive privilege
D) Dual federalism

Question 70

When the national government turns over power to states and local governments, this is referred to as:

A) Subsidization
B) Devolution
C) Progressive federalism
D) Protecting the reserved powers

Question 71

When the national government provides grant money for a project to states only after the states also agree to pay for a portion of the project, this is called a:

A) Grant-in-aid
B) Block grant
C) Matching grant
D) Paired grant

Question 72

Officials who strongly supported strengthening the authority of the federal government and expanding federal power beyond that outlined in Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution included:

A) George Washington
B) Thomas Jefferson
C) Alexander Hamilton
D) James Madison

Question 73

In 2013, the Supreme Court ruled that the federal law defining marriage was:

A) Constitutional
B) A violation of the full faith and credit clause
C) A violation of the commerce clause
D) A violation of state authority under the reserved powers

Question 74

Since the elections of 2008, the expansion of national government power has been:

A) Widely accepted by both parties in Washington
B) Generally ignored
C) The source of most of the problems between Congress and the president
D) Encouraged by the Supreme Court

Question 75

As of 2014, federal funds accounted for about ____ of the money spent by states.

A) 5%
B) 10%
C) 20%
D) 30%

Question 76

Since 1980, total federal grant dollars to states have:

A) Increased
B) Decreased
C) Stayed stagnant
D) Been completely eliminated

Question 77

As a percentage of all federal spending, federal grants to the states have _____ since 1980.

A) increased
B) decreased
C) stayed stagnant
D) been completely eliminated

Question 78

As a percentage of gross domestic product, federal grants to the states have _____ since 1980.

A) increased
B) decreased
C) stayed stagnant
D) been completely eliminated

Question 79

One of the requirements of a categorical grant-in-aid is:

A) The state must provide matching funds
B) The state must demonstrate specific need
C) The state must meet requirements set out by the national government
D) The state must have a budgetary crisis

Question 80

A conditional grant is the same as a:

A) Matching grant
B) Formula grant
C) Block grant
D) Categorical grant