Question 1

Using block grants to return power to the states was part of ________ during the Nixon (1969-1974) and Reagan (1981-1989) administrations.

Accepted Answer

A)  the New Deal 
B)  the Great Society 
C)  New Federalism 
D)  the New Frontier 
E)  the Third Way 
A)  the New Deal 
B)  the Great Society 
C)  New Federalism 
D)  the New Frontier 
E)  the Third Way

Question 2

What was one effect of dual federalism during the early republic?

Accepted Answer

A)  The national government was spared the task of making difficult policy decisions, such as the regulation of slavery, because the states did it themselves. 
B)  The national government was unable to raise sufficient amounts of money through taxes and tariffs. 
C)  The number of federal criminal laws expanded rapidly, while state criminal laws decreased. 
D)  The national government was able to significantly expand civil rights for blacks in the South. 
E)  The strength and size of the military grew dramatically. 
A)  The national government was spared the task of making difficult policy decisions, such as the regulation of slavery, because the states did it themselves. 
B)  The national government was unable to raise sufficient amounts of money through taxes and tariffs. 
C)  The number of federal criminal laws expanded rapidly, while state criminal laws decreased. 
D)  The national government was able to significantly expand civil rights for blacks in the South. 
E)  The strength and size of the military grew dramatically.

Question 3

In ________, the Supreme Court reinterpreted the commerce clause, changing it from a check on national power to a source of national power.

Accepted Answer

A)  1865 
B)  1915 
C)  1937 
D)  1973 
E)  1981 
A)  1865 
B)  1915 
C)  1937 
D)  1973 
E)  1981

Question 4

In 1996, ________ carried a copy of the Tenth Amendment in his pocket as he campaigned for the presidency.

Accepted Answer

A)  Bill Clinton 
B)  Ross Perot 
C)  Ralph Nader 
D)  Bob Dole 
E)  George W. Bush 
A)  Bill Clinton 
B)  Ross Perot 
C)  Ralph Nader 
D)  Bob Dole 
E)  George W. Bush

Question 5

Which of the following statements best describes the history of American federalism?

Accepted Answer

A)  There has always been a clear and noncontroversial allocation of responsibilities between the states and the federal government. 
B)  Throughout American history, there has been considerable debate about the allocation of responsibilities between the states and the federal government. 
C)  Debates over the responsibilities allocated to the states and to the federal government first occurred in the 1980s. 
D)  Debates over the responsibilities allocated to the states and to the federal government ended with the Civil War. 
E)  Debates over the responsibilities allocated to the states and to the federal government ended immediately after the Great Depression. 
A)  There has always been a clear and noncontroversial allocation of responsibilities between the states and the federal government. 
B)  Throughout American history, there has been considerable debate about the allocation of responsibilities between the states and the federal government. 
C)  Debates over the responsibilities allocated to the states and to the federal government first occurred in the 1980s. 
D)  Debates over the responsibilities allocated to the states and to the federal government ended with the Civil War. 
E)  Debates over the responsibilities allocated to the states and to the federal government ended immediately after the Great Depression.

Question 6

The number of categorical grants in the United States increased dramatically during the ________.

Accepted Answer

A)  Civil War 
B)  Progressive Era 
C)  1950s 
D)  1960s 
E)  1980s 
A)  Civil War 
B)  Progressive Era 
C)  1950s 
D)  1960s 
E)  1980s

Question 7

Which of the following is the best example of a concurrent power under the U.S. Constitution?

Accepted Answer

A)  the power to declare war 
B)  the power to coin money 
C)  the power to regulate commercial activity 
D)  the power to impeach federal officials 
E)  the power to tax imports and exports 
A)  the power to declare war 
B)  the power to coin money 
C)  the power to regulate commercial activity 
D)  the power to impeach federal officials 
E)  the power to tax imports and exports

Question 8

Federal officials seeking to give state officials more authority are most likely to support ________.

Accepted Answer

A)  unfunded mandates 
B)  preemption 
C)  block grants 
D)  categorical grants 
E)  project grants 
A)  unfunded mandates 
B)  preemption 
C)  block grants 
D)  categorical grants 
E)  project grants

Question 9

What clause in the U.S. Constitution affirms that national laws and treaties, made under the authority of the Constitution, are the supreme law of the land?

Accepted Answer

A)  the full faith and credit clause 
B)  the necessary and proper clause 
C)  the republican government clause 
D)  the supremacy clause 
E)  the establishment clause 
A)  the full faith and credit clause 
B)  the necessary and proper clause 
C)  the republican government clause 
D)  the supremacy clause 
E)  the establishment clause

Question 10

Why do many political scientists and economists believe that states and localities should not be in charge of redistributive programs?

Accepted Answer

A)  States and local governments have to compete with each other and do not have, therefore, an incentive to spend their money on the needy people in their areas. 
B)  Elected officials at the state and local levels are typically less generous and more discriminatory than elected officials at the national level. 
C)  State and local governments are wasteful and are too often plagued by corruption and bribery. 
D)  The Constitution clearly states that redistributive programs should be handled by the national government rather than by state and local governments. 
E)  State and local governments have fewer powers under the Constitution to impose taxes and spend money than the federal government. 
A)  States and local governments have to compete with each other and do not have, therefore, an incentive to spend their money on the needy people in their areas. 
B)  Elected officials at the state and local levels are typically less generous and more discriminatory than elected officials at the national level. 
C)  State and local governments are wasteful and are too often plagued by corruption and bribery. 
D)  The Constitution clearly states that redistributive programs should be handled by the national government rather than by state and local governments. 
E)  State and local governments have fewer powers under the Constitution to impose taxes and spend money than the federal government.

Question 11

Which of the following has NOT been an important contractual topic between states?

Accepted Answer

A)  the distribution of river water 
B)  state passport requirements 
C)  interstate transportation 
D)  environmental regulations 
E)  border disputes 
A)  the distribution of river water 
B)  state passport requirements 
C)  interstate transportation 
D)  environmental regulations 
E)  border disputes

Question 12

Which clause in the U.S. Constitution has been central in debates over same-sex marriage?

Accepted Answer

A)  the full faith and credit clause 
B)  the necessary and proper clause 
C)  the privileges and immunities clause 
D)  the interstate commerce clause 
E)  the establishment clause 
A)  the full faith and credit clause 
B)  the necessary and proper clause 
C)  the privileges and immunities clause 
D)  the interstate commerce clause 
E)  the establishment clause

Question 13

Which of the following statements about contemporary America is true?

Accepted Answer

A)  About half of the states have legalized medical marijuana. 
B)  About half of the states have legalized same-sex marriage. 
C)  both a and b 
D)  States will no longer be labyrinths of democracy in American federalism. 
E)  American federalism will likely experience no changes in the foreseeable future. 
A)  About half of the states have legalized medical marijuana. 
B)  About half of the states have legalized same-sex marriage. 
C)  both a and b 
D)  States will no longer be labyrinths of democracy in American federalism. 
E)  American federalism will likely experience no changes in the foreseeable future.

Question 14

What is the purpose of the Tenth Amendment?

Accepted Answer

A)  to offer each state constitution the same level of protection provided by the federal Constitution 
B)  to limit the powers of the central government by establishing reserved powers for states and individuals 
C)  to grant citizens of each state access to the federal court system 
D)  to protect freedom of speech 
E)  to establish the electoral college 
A)  to offer each state constitution the same level of protection provided by the federal Constitution 
B)  to limit the powers of the central government by establishing reserved powers for states and individuals 
C)  to grant citizens of each state access to the federal court system 
D)  to protect freedom of speech 
E)  to establish the electoral college

Question 15

Which level of government writes the majority of criminal laws?

Accepted Answer

A)  the national government 
B)  the state governments 
C)  the local governments 
D)  the special districts 
E)  the county boards of supervisors 
A)  the national government 
B)  the state governments 
C)  the local governments 
D)  the special districts 
E)  the county boards of supervisors

Question 16

In the 1990s, the Supreme Court's "federalism revolution" was designed to

Accepted Answer

A)  eliminate the control state governments have over local governments. 
B)  increase the amount of money devoted to project grants. 
C)  return more power to the states. 
D)  return more power to the federal government. 
E)  end the system of federalism in the United States and replace it with a unitary system. 
A)  eliminate the control state governments have over local governments. 
B)  increase the amount of money devoted to project grants. 
C)  return more power to the states. 
D)  return more power to the federal government. 
E)  end the system of federalism in the United States and replace it with a unitary system.

Question 17

Congressional grants paid for ________ percent of the development of an interstate highway after World War II.

Accepted Answer

A)  10 
B)  25 
C)  50 
D)  90 
E)  100 
A)  10 
B)  25 
C)  50 
D)  90 
E)  100

Question 18

Describe how ideas about federalism are tied to different views about the values of equality and liberty, and the ends of government. What kinds of state-federal relations do those who tend to prioritize equality above other political values prefer? What about people who prioritize liberty over other political values? Explain.

Accepted Answer

Ideas about federalism are tied to diffe

Question 19

Which of the following was NOT a function of government most commonly performed by state governments during the era of dual federalism?

Accepted Answer

A)  commercial laws 
B)  education 
C)  patents and copyrights 
D)  insurance laws 
E)  water and mineral laws 
A)  commercial laws 
B)  education 
C)  patents and copyrights 
D)  insurance laws 
E)  water and mineral laws

Question 20

Disapproval of unfunded mandates is most common among those who want to

Accepted Answer

A)  reduce the power of the federal government. 
B)  increase the scope of federal regulations. 
C)  exercise a strong principle of preemption. 
D)  return to the days of national supremacy. 
E)  eliminate the principle of home rule. 
A)  reduce the power of the federal government. 
B)  increase the scope of federal regulations. 
C)  exercise a strong principle of preemption. 
D)  return to the days of national supremacy. 
E)  eliminate the principle of home rule.

Using block grants to return power to the states was part of ________ during the Nixon (1969-1974) and Reagan (1981-1989) administrations.

What was one effect of dual federalism during the early republic?

In ________, the Supreme Court reinterpreted the commerce clause, changing it from a check on national power to a source of national power.

In 1996, ________ carried a copy of the Tenth Amendment in his pocket as he campaigned for the presidency.

Which of the following statements best describes the history of American federalism?

The number of categorical grants in the United States increased dramatically during the ________.

Which of the following is the best example of a concurrent power under the U.S. Constitution?

Federal officials seeking to give state officials more authority are most likely to support ________.

What clause in the U.S. Constitution affirms that national laws and treaties, made under the authority of the Constitution, are the supreme law of the land?

Why do many political scientists and economists believe that states and localities should not be in charge of redistributive programs?

Which of the following has NOT been an important contractual topic between states?

Which clause in the U.S. Constitution has been central in debates over same-sex marriage?

Which of the following statements about contemporary America is true?

What is the purpose of the Tenth Amendment?

Which level of government writes the majority of criminal laws?

In the 1990s, the Supreme Court's "federalism revolution" was designed to

Congressional grants paid for ________ percent of the development of an interstate highway after World War II.

Which of the following was NOT a function of government most commonly performed by state governments during the era of dual federalism?

Disapproval of unfunded mandates is most common among those who want to

American Political Culture

The Founding and the Constitution

Civil Liberties

Civil Rights

Public Opinion

The Media

Political Participation and Voting

Political Parties

Campaigns and Elections

Groups and Interests

Congress

The Presidency

Bureaucracy in a Democracy

The Federal Courts

Government and the Economy

Social Policy

Foreign Policy and Democracy

Filters

Exam 3: Federalism

Using block grants to return power to the states was part of ________ during the Nixon (1969-1974) and Reagan (1981-1989) administrations.

What was one effect of dual federalism during the early republic?

In ________, the Supreme Court reinterpreted the commerce clause, changing it from a check on national power to a source of national power.

In 1996, ________ carried a copy of the Tenth Amendment in his pocket as he campaigned for the presidency.

Which of the following statements best describes the history of American federalism?

The number of categorical grants in the United States increased dramatically during the ________.

Which of the following is the best example of a concurrent power under the U.S. Constitution?

Federal officials seeking to give state officials more authority are most likely to support ________.

What clause in the U.S. Constitution affirms that national laws and treaties, made under the authority of the Constitution, are the supreme law of the land?

Why do many political scientists and economists believe that states and localities should not be in charge of redistributive programs?

Which of the following has NOT been an important contractual topic between states?

Which clause in the U.S. Constitution has been central in debates over same-sex marriage?

Which of the following statements about contemporary America is true?

What is the purpose of the Tenth Amendment?

Which level of government writes the majority of criminal laws?

In the 1990s, the Supreme Court's "federalism revolution" was designed to

Congressional grants paid for ________ percent of the development of an interstate highway after World War II.

Which of the following was NOT a function of government most commonly performed by state governments during the era of dual federalism?

Disapproval of unfunded mandates is most common among those who want to

American Political Culture

The Founding and the Constitution

Civil Liberties

Civil Rights

Public Opinion

The Media

Political Participation and Voting

Political Parties

Campaigns and Elections

Groups and Interests

Congress

The Presidency

Bureaucracy in a Democracy

The Federal Courts

Government and the Economy

Social Policy

Foreign Policy and Democracy

Filters