Question 1

Which of the following is a law or policy probably handled exclusively by the federal government?

Accepted Answer

A)  voter identification laws 
B)  business regulation policy 
C)  an initiative to increase high school graduation rates 
D)  reforming healthcare laws to be more inclusive 
E)  trade negotiations with the UK 
A)  voter identification laws 
B)  business regulation policy 
C)  an initiative to increase high school graduation rates 
D)  reforming healthcare laws to be more inclusive 
E)  trade negotiations with the UK E

Question 2

Suppose California adopts environmental rules that permit manufacturers to emit more pollutants into the air, which affects air quality in Nevada and other neighboring states. This is an example of a/an ________.

Accepted Answer

A)  intergovernmental transfer 
B)  coordination problem 
C)  optimal response 
D)  unitary system 
E)  negative externality 
A)  intergovernmental transfer 
B)  coordination problem 
C)  optimal response 
D)  unitary system 
E)  negative externality E

Question 3

In what ways does federalism permit state governments to resolve problems of collective action? To what extent do some types of coordination problems still exist among the American states? What are their effects?

Accepted Answer

A thorough answer may include:
•Discussion of the supremacy clause, representing the federal government's ability to nationalize laws that may cause contention in between states.
•Through specialized funding initiatives (block grants, categorical grants, etc.) the federal government can encourage action when collective action and bandwagon dilemmas exist.
•Current examples of collective active dilemmas may include: recreational marijuana regulation and the complaints of neighboring states, the legalization of gay marriage, and the new debate over workplace discrimination that still exists in many states.
•Discussion of the "effects" may include mention of federal government's tendency to engage in more collective action dilemmas amongst the states throughout the twentieth century (for example, nationalized social welfare programs, the nationalization of minimum wage, etc.), resulting in greater power and presence of the federal government.

Question 4

If a local government wants to be more autonomous, what should it do?

Accepted Answer

A)  ask the courts to apply Dillon's Rule 
B)  create a council-manager system 
C)  encourage state government to adopt or maintain home rule 
D)  create a special district 
E)  hold a referendum 
A)  ask the courts to apply Dillon's Rule 
B)  create a council-manager system 
C)  encourage state government to adopt or maintain home rule 
D)  create a special district 
E)  hold a referendum

Question 5

In an effort to improve standardized testing scores in math and natural sciences, the federal government authorizes the Department of Education to make grants to local school districts to fund advanced training for high school teachers with established records of success teaching in relevant fields. How would this program best be characterized?

Accepted Answer

A)  grants-in-aid 
B)  categorical grant 
C)  block grant 
D)  matching grant 
E)  transfer 
A)  grants-in-aid 
B)  categorical grant 
C)  block grant 
D)  matching grant 
E)  transfer

Question 6

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which regulates transportation, commercial interaction, and water management in both states, is an example of ________.

Accepted Answer

A)  a governing body regulated by Congress as permitted by the commerce clause 
B)  a joint-municipal government 
C)  regional government 
D)  a commission 
E)  a Department of the Interior 
A)  a governing body regulated by Congress as permitted by the commerce clause 
B)  a joint-municipal government 
C)  regional government 
D)  a commission 
E)  a Department of the Interior

Question 7

Which institution has historically played the primary role in refereeing conflicts over the relative scope of federal and state powers under the U.S. Constitution?

Accepted Answer

A)  the president 
B)  the United States House of Representatives 
C)  the Supreme Court 
D)  the United States Senate 
E)  the National Council of State Legislatures 
A)  the president 
B)  the United States House of Representatives 
C)  the Supreme Court 
D)  the United States Senate 
E)  the National Council of State Legislatures

Question 8

Which term indicates the constitutional or legal authority held by local governments that allow them to govern themselves with little or no interference from the state?

Accepted Answer

A)  Dillon's Rule 
B)  home rule 
C)  intergovernmentalism 
D)  dual federalism 
E)  cooperative federalism 
A)  Dillon's Rule 
B)  home rule 
C)  intergovernmentalism 
D)  dual federalism 
E)  cooperative federalism

Question 9

Which term indicates a political system in which the national government holds ultimate authority over all areas of policy and over all actions of subunit governments? What is an example of this system of governance?

Accepted Answer

A)  federalism: Mexico, United States 
B)  confederation: Commonwealth of Independent States 
C)  intergovernmentalism: European Union 
D)  unitary system: Japan, France 
E)  internationalism: United Nations 
A)  federalism: Mexico, United States 
B)  confederation: Commonwealth of Independent States 
C)  intergovernmentalism: European Union 
D)  unitary system: Japan, France 
E)  internationalism: United Nations

Question 10

Which term indicates a political system with multiple levels of government that have independent constitutional authority over some important policy areas?

Accepted Answer

A)  federalism 
B)  confederation 
C)  intergovernmentalism 
D)  unitary system 
E)  internationalism 
A)  federalism 
B)  confederation 
C)  intergovernmentalism 
D)  unitary system 
E)  internationalism

Question 11

Which form of local government is essentially a local version of a separation of powers system?

Accepted Answer

A)  mayoral 
B)  council-manager 
C)  commission 
D)  special district 
E)  county 
A)  mayoral 
B)  council-manager 
C)  commission 
D)  special district 
E)  county

Question 12

According to numerous studies, what is the relationship between local government elections and racial minorities' representation?

Accepted Answer

A)  At-large election rules, which require city council members to be elected by the city as a whole, rather than by district, led to councils with fewer racial minorities. 
B)  At-large election rules, which require city council members to be elected by the city as a whole, rather than by district, led to councils with greater racial minorities. 
C)  Recall elections in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries in the U.S. led to offices with greater racial minorities than the normal election cycles. 
D)  Recall elections in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries in the U.S. led to offices with fewer racial minorities than the normal election cycles. 
E)  Since the Supreme Court decisions Baker v. Carr and Wesberry v. Sanders, the increased voting rights of racial minorities have been decreased dramatically.This has led to offices with fewer racial minorities. 
A)  At-large election rules, which require city council members to be elected by the city as a whole, rather than by district, led to councils with fewer racial minorities. 
B)  At-large election rules, which require city council members to be elected by the city as a whole, rather than by district, led to councils with greater racial minorities. 
C)  Recall elections in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries in the U.S. led to offices with greater racial minorities than the normal election cycles. 
D)  Recall elections in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries in the U.S. led to offices with fewer racial minorities than the normal election cycles. 
E)  Since the Supreme Court decisions Baker v. Carr and Wesberry v. Sanders, the increased voting rights of racial minorities have been decreased dramatically.This has led to offices with fewer racial minorities.

Question 13

Because of coordination problems inherent in intergovernmentalism, what types of situations lead many to argue that the U.S. should sometimes rely on a system characterized by more direct hierarchy and less division of responsibility?

Accepted Answer

A)  fierce disagreements between states on marriage 
B)  emergency responses to natural disasters 
C)  conflicts between localities within states on how to best educate students 
D)  how to spend surpluses in state budgets 
E)  solving trade issues between states 
A)  fierce disagreements between states on marriage 
B)  emergency responses to natural disasters 
C)  conflicts between localities within states on how to best educate students 
D)  how to spend surpluses in state budgets 
E)  solving trade issues between states

Question 14

The decision in Gibbons v. Ogden (1824) was significant in its broad interpretation of Congress' power regarding which part of the Constitution?

Accepted Answer

A)  the elastic clause 
B)  the commerce clause 
C)  the supremacy clause 
D)  the First Amendment 
E)  the Three-Fifths Compromise 
A)  the elastic clause 
B)  the commerce clause 
C)  the supremacy clause 
D)  the First Amendment 
E)  the Three-Fifths Compromise

Question 15

Which of these systems shares power most between state and national units?

Accepted Answer

A)  autocracy 
B)  unitary government 
C)  federalist government 
D)  totalitarianism 
E)  international governing organizations 
A)  autocracy 
B)  unitary government 
C)  federalist government 
D)  totalitarianism 
E)  international governing organizations

Question 16

Which of the following problems is addressed by implementing federalist practices?

Accepted Answer

A)  collective action problems 
B)  making war 
C)  international treaties 
D)  coining money 
E)  impeaching the president 
A)  collective action problems 
B)  making war 
C)  international treaties 
D)  coining money 
E)  impeaching the president

Question 17

Which policy area is most clearly a reserved power of the state governments under the U.S. Constitution?

Accepted Answer

A)  emissions regulation 
B)  national defense 
C)  coining money 
D)  taxation 
E)  economic regulation 
A)  emissions regulation 
B)  national defense 
C)  coining money 
D)  taxation 
E)  economic regulation

Question 18

Difficulty in coordinating action among the states under the Articles of Confederation led to important problems for regulating the national economy and ensuring national security. This led the framers of the U.S. Constitution to abandon the ________ system created by the Articles of Confederation in favor of a ________ system under the Constitution.

Accepted Answer

A)  unitary/federal 
B)  federal/unitary 
C)  unitary/confederal 
D)  confederal/federal 
E)  federal/confederal 
A)  unitary/federal 
B)  federal/unitary 
C)  unitary/confederal 
D)  confederal/federal 
E)  federal/confederal

Question 19

In 1991 after the disbanding of the Soviet Union, the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) was founded between the Republic of Belarus, the Russian Federation, and Ukraine. This system of governance allowed for the addition of new member states after their ratification of the CIS Charter, as well as the protection of human rights and free trade within the uniting states. What constitutional arrangement does this most clearly represent?

Accepted Answer

A)  federalism 
B)  unitary system 
C)  internationalism 
D)  commonwealth 
E)  confederation 
A)  federalism 
B)  unitary system 
C)  internationalism 
D)  commonwealth 
E)  confederation

Question 20

Which constitutional change most clearly shifted the balance of power toward the federal government and away from the states in the American federal system?

Accepted Answer

A)  Fourteenth Amendment, which allows the federal government to collect income taxes 
B)  Nineteenth Amendment, which establishes women's voting rights 
C)  Twenty-Second Amendment, which limits presidents to two terms 
D)  Twenty-Third Amendment, which allows the District of Columbia to participate in the electoral college 
E)  Twenty-Sixth Amendment, which establishes voting rights for eighteen- to twenty-year-olds 
A)  Fourteenth Amendment, which allows the federal government to collect income taxes 
B)  Nineteenth Amendment, which establishes women's voting rights 
C)  Twenty-Second Amendment, which limits presidents to two terms 
D)  Twenty-Third Amendment, which allows the District of Columbia to participate in the electoral college 
E)  Twenty-Sixth Amendment, which establishes voting rights for eighteen- to twenty-year-olds

Which of the following is a law or policy probably handled exclusively by the federal government?

Suppose California adopts environmental rules that permit manufacturers to emit more pollutants into the air, which affects air quality in Nevada and other neighboring states. This is an example of a/an ________.

In what ways does federalism permit state governments to resolve problems of collective action? To what extent do some types of coordination problems still exist among the American states? What are their effects?

If a local government wants to be more autonomous, what should it do?

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which regulates transportation, commercial interaction, and water management in both states, is an example of ________.

Which institution has historically played the primary role in refereeing conflicts over the relative scope of federal and state powers under the U.S. Constitution?

Which term indicates the constitutional or legal authority held by local governments that allow them to govern themselves with little or no interference from the state?

Which term indicates a political system in which the national government holds ultimate authority over all areas of policy and over all actions of subunit governments? What is an example of this system of governance?

Which term indicates a political system with multiple levels of government that have independent constitutional authority over some important policy areas?

Which form of local government is essentially a local version of a separation of powers system?

According to numerous studies, what is the relationship between local government elections and racial minorities' representation?

Because of coordination problems inherent in intergovernmentalism, what types of situations lead many to argue that the U.S. should sometimes rely on a system characterized by more direct hierarchy and less division of responsibility?

The decision in Gibbons v. Ogden (1824) was significant in its broad interpretation of Congress' power regarding which part of the Constitution?

Which of these systems shares power most between state and national units?

Which of the following problems is addressed by implementing federalist practices?

Which policy area is most clearly a reserved power of the state governments under the U.S. Constitution?

Which constitutional change most clearly shifted the balance of power toward the federal government and away from the states in the American federal system?

Introduction

The Constitution

Civil Rights and Liberties

Congress

The Presidency

The Bureaucracy

The Judiciary

Public Opinion

Political Participation

Interest Groups and Social Movements

Political Parties

Elections and Campaigns

Mass Media and the Press

Economic Policy

Social Policy

Foreign Policy

Filters

Exam 3: Federalism

Which of the following is a law or policy probably handled exclusively by the federal government?

Suppose California adopts environmental rules that permit manufacturers to emit more pollutants into the air, which affects air quality in Nevada and other neighboring states. This is an example of a/an ________.

In what ways does federalism permit state governments to resolve problems of collective action? To what extent do some types of coordination problems still exist among the American states? What are their effects?

If a local government wants to be more autonomous, what should it do?

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which regulates transportation, commercial interaction, and water management in both states, is an example of ________.

Which institution has historically played the primary role in refereeing conflicts over the relative scope of federal and state powers under the U.S. Constitution?

Which term indicates the constitutional or legal authority held by local governments that allow them to govern themselves with little or no interference from the state?

Which term indicates a political system in which the national government holds ultimate authority over all areas of policy and over all actions of subunit governments? What is an example of this system of governance?

Which term indicates a political system with multiple levels of government that have independent constitutional authority over some important policy areas?

Which form of local government is essentially a local version of a separation of powers system?

According to numerous studies, what is the relationship between local government elections and racial minorities' representation?

Because of coordination problems inherent in intergovernmentalism, what types of situations lead many to argue that the U.S. should sometimes rely on a system characterized by more direct hierarchy and less division of responsibility?

The decision in Gibbons v. Ogden (1824) was significant in its broad interpretation of Congress' power regarding which part of the Constitution?

Which of these systems shares power most between state and national units?

Which of the following problems is addressed by implementing federalist practices?

Which policy area is most clearly a reserved power of the state governments under the U.S. Constitution?

Which constitutional change most clearly shifted the balance of power toward the federal government and away from the states in the American federal system?

Introduction

The Constitution

Civil Rights and Liberties

Congress

The Presidency

The Bureaucracy

The Judiciary

Public Opinion

Political Participation

Interest Groups and Social Movements

Political Parties

Elections and Campaigns

Mass Media and the Press

Economic Policy

Social Policy

Foreign Policy

Filters