Federalism Exam Review Flashcards
q1-110 ig feining (110 cards)
Which of the following is true of federalism?
A. The Founding Fathers interpreted federalism as a process of devolution and new federalism.
B. Interstate highway projects are an example of dual federalism.
C. Dual federalism involves categorical and block grants.
D. Both LBJ and Nixon’s revenue sharing plan is an example of fiscal federalism.
E. Cooperative federalism implies that each level of gov is supreme in its own sphere of influence.
D. Both LBJ and Nixon’s revenue sharing plan is an example of fiscal federalism.
LBJ - Great Society plan aimed to end poverty and racial injustice. Federal gov funded education as an example of fiscal federation.
Nixon - New Federalism involved federal gov giving more block grants to states
In the US, powers of gov are divided between national and state govs, and several regional and local govs. This system is called _____.
A. delegated gov
B. federalism
C. democracy
D. republican gov
E. checks and balances
B. federalism
Separation of levels of government and or powers = federalism
The US is characterized by cooperative federalism, where the national gov shares money with the states through grants. Which of the following is most favored by the states?
A. Categorical grants because the states can spend the money on broad categories of projects.
B. Unfunded mandates because the states can use a precise equation to determine how to spend the money.
C. Categorical grants because they rarely have any strings attached.
D. Block grants because they give the states considerable freedom in deciding how to spend the money.
E. Project grants because the states can compete to build specific projects such as libraries and airports.
D. Block grants because they give the states considerable freedom in deciding how to spend the money.
Categorical grants control states, block grants fund them without strings attached.
What is the main reason for the shift from dual to cooperative federalism?
A. Court decisions that required the states and federal gov to coordinate policies.
B. Inconsistent welfare policies at the state level, which required national coordination.
C. The increase in federal grants-in-aid to the states.
D. The global economy and the importance of improving the trained workforce.
E. Revenue sharing which occured during budgetary surpluses.
C. The increase in federal grants-in-aid to the states.
Which of the following is the best example of the shift in power towards states’ rights?
A. The use of the commerce clause to regulate public places and accommodations.
B. The Court’s decision in the US v. Lopez.
C. Grants-in-aid, especially categorical grants, provided by the national gov to the states.
D. The Court’s decision in McCulloch v. Maryland.
B. The Court’s decision in the US v. Lopez.
McCulloch v. Maryland favored the federal gov by expanding their implied powers.
In case of a tie vote in the electoral college during the selection of the president, who is charged with electing the president?
A. Senate
B. House of Representatives
C. Supreme Court
D. Senate and Supreme Court
B. House of Representatives
Which constitutional provision has expanded the power of the federal gov in regulating privately owned businesses?
A. Commerce clause
B. Tenth amendment
C. Full faith and credit clause
D. Power to lay and collect taxes
A. Commerce clause
The Congress shall have power… to make all laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into execution the foregoing of powers, and all other powers vested by this Constitution in the gov of the US, or in any department or officer thereof.
Interpretations of this clause have been central to attempts to define the nature of which f the following aspects of the US political system?
A. Republicanism
B. Pluralism
C. Due process of law
D. Federalism
E. Judicial review
D. Federalism
Which of the following options represents the majority opinion in United States v. Lopez?
A. Individuals have the right to own and carry guns.
B. The power of the federal gov in relation to state govs is limited in this case.
C. The commerce clause gives Congress broad powers to determine the constitutionality of laws.
D. Even small, local events ultimately have an effect on interstate commerce.
B. The power of the federal gov in relation to state govs is limited in this case.
Federal gov claimed increase gun violence impacts commerce however the Court claimed it was too far of a stretch. Firearms only minutely affected commerce.
Seen as a “tyrannical” stretch of power.
Which of the following statements accurately describes federalism?
A. Federalism is a governing system that places a national authority above regional authority
B. Federalism ranks the sovereignty of the states over the power of the national gov.
C. Federalism is a balance of powers between state and local govs.
D. Federalism is a sharing of powers between national and regional govs.
D. Federalism is a sharing of powers between national and regional govs.
Federalism might be a balance of power between state and FEDERAL govs but not state and local govs.
On which of the following issues did Federalist and Jeffersonians have most widely differing views?
A. Declaring independence
B. Writing the Constitution
C. Ratifying the Constitution
D. Creating a national bank
D. Creating a national bank
Most members of Congress believe the legal driving age should be 18, because statistics show that drivers under 18 have many more accidents than those 18 and older.
Which of the following is the most practical and lasting action Congress can take to address this issue?
A. Urge the president to issue an executive order requiring drivers to be at least 18 years old
B. Mandate states to set the driving age at 18 and withhold high funds from any state that does not comply
C. Convince the Supreme Court that Congress, not the states, should regulate driving laws
D. Distribute educational materials on the issue on state legislatures
B. Mandate states to set the driving age at 18 and withhold high funds from any state that does not comply
In the McCulloch v. Maryland decision, which two provisions in the Constitution were upheld and strengthened the strength of the federal gov?
A. Congress’s power to regulate commerce and to levy taxes.
B. The necessary and proper clause and the supremacy clause
C. The First and Tenth amendment
D. The full faith and credit clause and the supremacy clause
B. The necessary and proper clause and the supremacy clause
The fiscal relationship between the national and state govs involves complex relationships. Which would least likely be favored by state govs?
A. unfunded mandates
B. categorical grants
C. block grants
D. revenue sharing
E. formula grants
A. unfunded mandates
Which of the following is an accurate statement about the necessary and proper clause?
A. After United States v. Lopez, the clause allowed Congress to bar guns near schools
B. The clause empowers Congress to overrule Court decisions
C. The clause empowers Congress to act as required to carry out its expressed powers.
D. The clause has mainly been used to return authority to the states in contested laws.
C. The clause empowers Congress to act as required to carry out its expressed powers.
Which of the following is an accurate comparison of federal block grants and categorical grants?
A. Block grants let members of Congress control how to spend money in their districts.
Categorical grants gives states control over how to spend federal money locally.
B. Block grants lead to loss of congressional oversight on spending.
Categorical grants require states or localities to meet certain criteria.
C. Block grants are used primarily to combat terrorism at the local level.
Categorical grants are available to state govs but not city govs.
D. Block grants specify how the grant money is to be spent.
Categorical grants have declined in favor of block grants.
B. Block grants lead to loss of congressional oversight on spending.
Categorical grants require states or localities to meet certain criteria.
Which of the following best describes Congress’s use of the commerce clause over time?
A. Congress has used it to protect workers and the environment.
B. The Supreme Court has denied Congress much of its commercial regulation authority.
C. Congress can legislate only on products that involve intrastate commerce.
D. Congress has used its commerce power sparingly, and there are few federal commercial laws.
A. Congress has used it to protect workers and the environment.
The levels of gov recognized and specifically in the Constitution are ________.
A. counties and regional governments
B. states and the people
C. states and cities
D. national and state
E. states, local, and parishes
D. national and state
Federalism as a form of government helps accommodate
A. differences across states
B. govs in small geographical areas
C. citizens who want a strong government
D. citizens who want uniform policies across their political system
E. citizens who do not want policies to change over time
A. differences across states
“Enumerated” powers are those given to the
A. Supreme Court
B. federal bureaucracy
C. state governments
D. military
E. national government
E. national government
The power of the national gov to regular interstate commerce was expanded in the landmark case of _______.
A. Marbury v. Madison
B.McCulloch v. Maryland
C. Miranda v. Arizona
D. Gibbons v. Ogden
D. Gibbons v. Ogden
The notion that when states and federal law conflict, the national laws will prevail, is the ______.
A. necessary and proper clause
B. supremacy clause
C. extradition clause
D. full faith and credit clause
B. supremacy clause
The Founding Fathers had successfully rebelled against a unitary form of government. They had tried a confederation which was not working. Thus, they developed a ___ form of government.
A. constitutional monarchy
B. federal
C. socialist
D. fascist
E. popular democratic
B. federal
Both the national and states’ governments can establish court systems. This is an example of ___.
a. reservations
b. a mandate
c. concurrent powers
d. full faith and credit clause
e. fiscal federalism
c. concurrent powers