Deck 3: Federalism

Question 1

A central government that has complete authority over all levels of government is called a

A) confederal system.
B) federal system.
C) unitary system.
D) nonfederal system.

Answer 1

C

Question 2

A power-sharing arrangement in which a central government's authority is granted by the individual political units and the central government is generally weak is called a

A) confederal system.
B) federal system.
C) unitary system.
D) nonfederal system.

Answer 2

A

Question 3

The Articles of Confederation was

A) the United States' pre-Revolution governing document.
B) the United States' first constitution.
C) the United States' first informal constitution.
D) the United States' second constitution.

Answer 3

B

Question 4

A power-sharing arrangement between a central governing authority and individual political units is called a

A) confederal system.
B) federal system.
C) unitary system.
D) nonfederal system.

Question 5

The "supremacy clause" establishes that

A) the states are supreme over the federal government.
B) the United States is a supreme superpower among the other nations.
C) the states are supreme over municipal governments.
D) the U.S. Constitution and federal laws shall be the supreme law of the land when they clash with state laws.

Question 6

Powers that the federal government is not expressly granted but that it is assumed to possess so that Congress can carry out its duties are called

A) enumerated powers.
B) federal powers.
C) implied powers.
D) reserved powers.

Question 7

Article I, Section 8, of the Constitution, which specifies that Congress is allowed to assume additional powers needed to carry out its function, is referred to as the

A) commerce clause.
B) necessary and proper clause.
C) reserved power clause.
D) implied powers clause.

Question 8

The clause in the U.S. Constitution that gives Congress the power to regulate commerce with foreign nations and among the states is the

A) commerce clause.
B) necessary and proper clause.
C) reserved power clause.
D) implied powers clause.

Question 9

Powers shared between the state and federal governments are referred to as

A) the reserve clause.
B) concurrent powers.
C) implied powers.
D) federal powers.

Question 10

The constitution clause that requires that each state respect the rights and proceedings of other states is the

A) full faith and credit clause.
B) necessary and proper clause.
C) supremacy clause.
D) commerce clause.

Question 11

Nowhere does it say that Congress can pay for gym equipment on military bases. However, we can say that providing gym facilities is _______ in Congress's power to raise and support armies.

A) essential
B) obvious
C) implied
D) given

Question 12

Both the state and federal government can tax you. This is a(n) ___ power.

A) implied
B) concurrent
C) double
D) cooperative

Question 13

The Tenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution is sometimes called the

A) federal power clause.
B) reserve clause.
C) supremacy clause.
D) unitary clause.

Question 14

If the state governments did not exist and policies for the entire nation were set by the national government, we would live in a _______ system.

A) confederational
B) federal
C) unitary
D) tyrannical

Question 15

Currently, the U.S. is a _______ system.

A) tyrannical
B) confederational
C) unitary
D) federal

Question 16

Suppose a Texas law and a federal law clash. Which one "wins out"?

A) The state law wins.
B) The federal law wins.
C) The voters decide.
D) The Supreme Court decides.

Question 17

Texas has stretches of highway where the speed limit is 85 mph. Suppose another state watches Texas's experience with higher speed limits and then decides to copy it. We can say that Texas was a(n)

A) innovator.
B) laboratory of democracy.
C) policy leader.
D) initial spark.

Question 18

What event underscored the failures of the Articles of Confederation?

A) Shays's Rebellion
B) Alexander Hamilton's speech on the state of the economy
C) The War of 1812
D) The Texas Revolution

Question 19

Governor Bush developed a(n) _______ policy that he later implemented on the national level when he became president.

A) energy
B) drug treatment
C) education
D) health care

Question 20

Generally speaking, which level of government do Texans trust the most?

A) The federal government
B) State and local government
C) The governments of other states
D) Trust the state and federal governments about equally

Question 21

Texas tends to receive influxes of federal aid when it experiences

A) low education test scores.
B) housing shortages.
C) natural disasters.
D) population growth.

Question 22

Most federal money in Texas is spent on

A) financial assistance for needy families.
B) housing.
C) social programs, such as Medicare.
D) parks.

Question 23

A federalist system in which the federal, state, and local government each has exclusive powers that are reserved to it alone is referred to as

A) dual federalism.
B) cooperative federalism.
C) states' rights.
D) coercive federalism.

Question 24

Texas did not want to comply with the federal government's Common Core education standards. But when the federal government threatened to withhold federal funding, Texas adopted Common Core (TEKS). This is an example of

A) cooperative federalism.
B) dual federalism.
C) coercive federalism.
D) collaborative federalism.

Question 25

Suppose after a hurricane the governor asked for federal assistance for recovery. The president replied, "Disaster management is something the states should handle, not the federal government." This would be an example of

A) coercive federalism.
B) collaborative federalism.
C) cooperative federalism.
D) dual federalism.

Question 26

The reserve clause, which states that powers not delegated to the federal government are reserved for the states, comes from

A) the Tenth Amendment.
B) Article I of the Constitution.
C) Texas law.
D) common law.

Question 27

After flooding in Houston, the state government sent aid. Additionally, the federal government also sent aid. This is an example of

A) collaborative federalism.
B) coercive federalism.
C) dual federalism.
D) cooperative federalism.

Question 28

_______ gives states greater autonomy from the federal government.

A) New federalism
B) Cooperative federalism
C) Collaborative governance
D) Unitary governance

Question 29

Originally, the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) withheld funds from the states if they did not expand Medicaid. This is an example of

A) devolution.
B) new federalism.
C) dual federalism.
D) coercive federalism.

Question 30

The federal government gives aid to Texas, but places requirements on how those funds can be spent. This is an example of a

A) string grant.
B) block grant.
C) matching grant.
D) categorical grant.

Question 31

"Layer cake" federalism, in which each layer of government is distinct from the others and maintains its own power and authority, is the illustration for

A) neofederalism.
B) dual federalism.
C) cooperative federalism.
D) coercive federalism.

Question 32

A federalist system in which each level of government has overlapping and intertwined authority over shared issues is referred to as

A) federalism.
B) dual federalism.
C) cooperative federalism.
D) coercive federalism.

Question 33

Funds that are distributed to state or local governments for programs that require state governments to meet conditions established by the federal government are called

A) categorical grants.
B) matching grants.
C) educational grants.
D) new federalism grants.

Question 34

Funds that the state adds to supplement specific federal government programs are called

A) categorical grants.
B) matching grants.
C) educational grants.
D) new federalism grants.

Question 35

A federal system that returns greater responsibilities, duties, and funding to the states is called

A) new federalism.
B) new constitutionalism.
C) cooperative federalism.
D) dual federalism.

Question 36

New federalism often involves the federal government transferring power to the states in a process called

A) devolution.
B) state enhancement.
C) granting aid.
D) originalism.

Question 37

Fixed funds that are transferred to states for the implementation of a policy or program are called

A) matching grants.
B) federal disaster funds.
C) categorical grants.
D) block grants.

Question 38

Medicaid is an example of a

A) disaster relief fund.
B) block grant.
C) cooperative grant.
D) healthcare grant.

Question 39

A system in which the federal government establishes guidelines for the states and may punish the states for not participating is called

A) dual federalism.
B) new federalism.
C) cooperative federalism.
D) coercive federalism.

Question 40

Federal legislation that requires the states to implement policies but does not supply funding necessary for implementation is called a(n)

A) funded mandate.
B) unfunded mandate.
C) cooperative mandate.
D) federal mandate.

Question 41

When the federal government grants states permission and funding to implement federal regulations in policy areas but only if the states comply with a host of conditions, the government is engaging in

A) preemptions.
B) devolution.
C) block-grant incitement.
D) cooperative mandates.

Question 42

The federal government gives Texas $20 million to expand the highway in Dallas. But it requires Texas to also spend $20 million of its own on the project. This is an example of

A) matching funds.
B) coercive federalism.
C) enumeration.
D) reserving.

Question 43

Texas receives funds from the federal government for a broad purpose, such as funding Medicaid. Texas has considerable discretion in how to use those funds. This is an example of

A) collaborative aid.
B) devolution.
C) a categorical grant.
D) a block grant.

Question 44

In the 1970s the federal government told states they would lose federal highway funds if they did not raise their drinking ages. This is an example of

A) coercive federalism.
B) dual federalism.
C) new federalism.
D) devolution.

Question 45

Cooperative federalism is sometimes described as

A) "marble cake" federalism.
B) "layer cake" federalism.
C) "upside-down cake" federalism.
D) "sheet cake" federalism.

Question 46

Before Shelby County v. Holder, Texas had to clear all of its election-policy changes through the U.S. Department of Justice. This practice was called

A) discriminatory checking.
B) federal overreach.
C) federal review.
D) preclearance.

Question 47

Suppose Texas disagrees with the federal government. How might this be resolved?

A) By asking the governor of New Mexico to moderate a discussion between the Texas governor and the president
B) By threatening to declare independence
C) By suing the federal government
D) By returning all federal funds and ignoring the federal government

Question 48

Generally speaking, when Texas takes the federal government to court

A) the federal government almost always offers to settle.
B) it almost always loses.
C) it almost always wins.
D) it wins about 25% of the time.

Question 49

Describe a "federal system."

Question 50

Explain the "commerce clause."

Question 51

Explain the "reserved powers."

Question 52

Explain the problems under the Articles of Confederation.

Question 53

Which level of government do Texans trust the most and what is one possible reason for this?

Question 54

Explain "new federalism."

Question 55

Explain the concept of federalism and the relevant constitutional provision that establishes federal and state division of powers.

Question 56

What are the reserved powers and why are the significant?