Question 1

A unitary system is a political arrangement where the power of the central government is supreme over the member states or nonnational governments.

Accepted Answer

In a unitary system, the central government has supreme power over subnational units such as states or regional governments.

Question 2

The interstate compact clause, authorized by the U.S.Constitution,

Accepted Answer

The interstate compact clause allows states to make agreements or compacts with one another, with Congress's approval, to address issues that affect multiple states. This clause provides a useful tool for settling disputes between two or more states. It does not permit the national government to impose solutions on states or settle disputes between local governments within a state. It also does not address situations not covered in the Tenth Amendment, which reserves powers not delegated to the national government to the states or the people.

Question 3

An intergovernmental transfer of funds or other assets, subject to conditions, is known as

Accepted Answer

A grant-in-aid is a type of transfer of funds or assets from one level of government to another, subject to specific conditions or requirements. This is different from general revenue sharing, which is an unconditional transfer of funds, and federal mandates, which impose requirements but may not involve a transfer of funds. Set-asides refer to funds specifically earmarked for a particular purpose within a larger budget, but may not involve a transfer between levels of government.

Question 4

A confederacy is a political arrangement in which power is derived from a central authority.

Accepted Answer

This statement is incorrect. A confederacy is a political arrangement in which power is derived from the constituent political units (such as states or provinces), rather than a central authority.

Question 5

The four provisions for cooperation among the states under the U.S.Constitution include all of the following except

Accepted Answer

The intrastate compact clause allows for compacts to be made between different states, but does not allow for compacts with foreign countries. The other provisions listed are accurate.

Question 6

Factions consist of any group of citizens or interests united in a cause or action that can threaten the rights or interests of the larger society.

Accepted Answer

This is the definition of factions. They can be political or non-political groups and can potentially harm the larger society.

Question 7

States have less power under a federal system than under a unitary system.

Accepted Answer

The answer of States have less power under a federal...

Question 8

The devolution of responsibilities to the states accelerated

Accepted Answer

The devolution of responsibilities to the states accelerated in the 1980s under President Reagan, who believed in reducing the size of the federal government and giving more power to the states. This was a part of his conservative agenda known as "New Federalism."

Question 9

One of the advantages of federalism is that it helps manage social and political conflict by broadly dispersing political power within and among governments.

Accepted Answer

Federalism enables power to be distributed between different levels of government, which can help in managing conflicts as power is not concentrated in one central authority. This allows for more local decision-making and can lead to greater representation and responsiveness to diverse interests within a society.

Question 10

Historically speaking, national grant-in-aid expenditures

Accepted Answer

National grant-in-aid expenditures have increased over time and are currently at an all-time high, reflecting the growing role of federal funding in supporting state and local government programs.

Question 11

Taxation, regulation of commerce, declaration of war, and the administration of military forces are all examples of concurrent powers expressly given to the national government.

Accepted Answer

Concurrent powers are shared by both state and national governments, but the powers listed are primarily federal powers, not concurrent.

Question 12

President Reagan's primary goal under his version of new federalism was to

Accepted Answer

President Reagan's version of new federalism aimed to shrink the size of the federal government and shift more power to the states. This included cutting federal funding for social programs and other services, and giving states more control over how they spent their money. Reagan believed that states were better equipped to handle these programs and that local solutions would be more effective. Therefore, the correct answer is C)shrink the size of the national government.

Question 13

Block grants are

Accepted Answer

Block grants are broader in focus than categorical grants, as they provide funding for a range of programs and services within a general area, while categorical grants are more specific and limited to certain programs or activities.

Question 14

One of the disadvantages of federalism is that it may contribute to conflict among the various levels of government and may hinder efforts to achieve national goals.

Accepted Answer

The division of power between the national and state governments can lead to disagreements and competition for authority, which can make it harder to achieve a unified national agenda.

Question 15

The Ninth Amendment reserves clear and specific powers for the states.

Accepted Answer

The Ninth Amendment does not reserve powers for the states; instead, it is interpreted as protecting individual rights that are not specifically listed in the Constitution.

Question 16

The political arrangement under the Articles of Confederation is a good example of a unitary political system.

Accepted Answer

The political arrangement under the Articles of Confederation was not a unitary system. It was a confederate system in which power was primarily held by the individual states, not the central government.

Question 17

When the national government requires states or localities to undertake a specific activity or provide a particular service but does not pay for it, this is referred to as

Accepted Answer

An unfunded federal mandate is when the national government requires states or localities to undertake a specific activity or provide a particular service without providing funds to cover the costs. This can place a burden on state and local budgets and is a controversial issue in federalism. The other options refer to different types of federal funding for state and local governments.

Question 18

Following the American Revolution, the United States began as a confederacy under the Articles of Confederation.

Accepted Answer

After the American Revolution, the United States adopted the Articles of Confederation as its first governing document, which established a confederacy of independent states.

Question 19

Under the George W.Bush administration, questions regarding federalism

Accepted Answer

During the George W. Bush administration, questions regarding federalism were not well articulated, and legislative initiatives of his administration sought to preempt state authority on several issues. This was seen in initiatives such as the No Child Left Behind Act and the Real ID Act, which both imposed federal standards on states. While there were some references to federalism in his speeches, they were not consistently applied in his policies.

Question 20

One of the disadvantages of federalism is that it may encourage local biases that hinder the achievement of national goals.

Accepted Answer

In federalism, power is divided between the central government and local governments, which may create a situation where local interests are prioritized over national goals, hindering their achievement.

Quiz 2: Federalism and the States