CHAPTER 3: Federalism

Initially, it was supposed that

Congress could regulate interstate commerce.

Which statement best summarizes Madison's view of federalism?

He was first an ardent supporter of national supremacy, then of states' rights

During the battle over slavery, the case for nullification was forcefully presented by

John C. Calhoun.

77. When Republicans took control of Congress in 1994, the first key issue in their drive to reduce federal spending was a. welfare. b. defense. c. education. d. health. e. public transportation.

a

According to the text, block grants have enjoyed only marginal success, in part because a. the federal government steadily increased the number of strings attached to such grants. b. money from categorical grants shrank so low as to make these other grants essential. c. these grants were based on local priorities rather than on the needs of the nation as a whole. d. these grants discouraged federal control over how the money was to be used. e. these grants were not attractive to members of Congress.

a

According to the text, the grant-in-aid system grew rapidly because it helped state and local officials resolve what dilemma? a. How to get federal money into state hands without violating the U.S. Constitution b. How to limit federal taxation power without reducing aid to states c. How to increase federal taxation power without violating the U.S. Constitution d. How to shift financial control of state programs to the federal government without violating states' rights e. How to ring critical state functions gradually under federal control

a

An example of an intergovernmental lobby would be a lobby comprising a. local police chiefs. b. local gas station owners. c. gun enthusiasts. d. oil company executives. e. a society of card players.

a

Categorical grants typically require that a state or locality a. provide matching funds. b. make no more than one request per year. c. distribute funds in at least six separate programs. d. disburse funds in an equal fashion. e. allow interest groups to lobby for one-half of the overall amount.

a

One clear impact of devolution is a. a reduction in welfare rolls. b. fewer governmental rules and regulations. c. greater regard for the benefits of categorical grants. d. a reduction in federal spending. e. a reduction in state spending.

a

One reason that block grants have proved unsuccessful as a means of distributing federal money to local governments is that they a. lack strong local political support. b. are too vulnerable to political lobbying. c. require annual congressional approval. d. encourage rivalry among states competing for federal money. e. rarely build consensus among leaders in Washington.

a

The cost of political participation to the average U.S. citizen is less than that to the average French citizen because in the United States, a. more small, political constituencies are found than in France. b. the media give greater coverage to political protest than in France. c. fewer citizens become involved in political causes than in France. d. political participation is both protected and encouraged by the U.S. Constitution. e. political debates are given more media attention in the United States.

a

The term intergovernmental lobby is used in the text to refer to lobbying activities by a. state and local officials at the national government. b. one branch of the national government at another branch. c. foreign governments in Washington, D.C. d. federal agencies at statehouses and city halls. e. governmental units with ties to interest groups.

a

The text suggests that we might expect to find more mandates in policy areas where the government a. spends less. b. spends more. c. wants the states to spend less. d. has been involved a longer period of time. e. cannot possibly enforce them.

a

Ukraine, formerly one of the Soviet republics, had its own local unit of government, yet the Soviet Union was not considered a federal system. This is because in the former Soviet Union, a. local governments were not independent of the central government. b. local government officials were not elected democratically. c. the central government did not have a constitution. d. central government officials were appointed by local governments. e. local governments administered their own laws and ordinances.

a

What types of federal funds are most likely to be critical for an agency that depends on the federal government for its existence? a. Categorical grants b. Block grants c. Fund grants d. Revenue-sharing programs e. Project enhancement grants

a

Which statement regarding states is incorrect? a. Their existence is not guaranteed by the Constitution. b. No state can be divided without its consent. c. Each state must have two representatives in the Senate. d. Each state is assured of a republican form of government. e. Powers not granted to Congress are reserved to the states.

a

In Kelo v. City of New London, the Supreme Court held that the government can seize property

a. for public use. to promote economic development in distressed communities.

The text suggests federalism, or federal-state relations, looms behind

a. civil rights. b. civil liberties. c. the sale and purchasing of liquor. d. the speed limit of certain highways.

The interstate commerce that the federal government can regulate is now interpreted to include

almost any kind of economic activity.

A block grant is essentially a a. grant that benefits a single, local unit (or block). b. group of categorical or project grants. c. reverse grant-in-aid, by which money flows from states back to the federal government. d. project grant with tighter restrictions. e. a project grant with less federal support.

b

Federalism in the United States means that when Washington wants to send money to one state or congressional district it must a. justify the decision in writing. b. send money to many states and districts. c. send money in as direct a manner as possible. d. act swiftly, without regard to other states and districts. e. remove controversy from the process by press releases.

b

The devolution initiatives of the Republicans were not new, but acquired a new vitality because the effort was led by a. the president. b. Congress. c. the federal bureaucracy. d. state governors. e. state legislatures.

b

When a locality is required by federal law to do something, regardless of whether it receives federal funding for that purpose, this duty is called a a. condition of aid. b. mandate. c. string-attached edict. d. court decision. e. pontification.

b

Which is a procedure that enables voters to reject a measure adopted by the legislature? a. Initiative b. Referendum c. Recall d. Logrolling e. Rollback

b

Which of the following countries does not have a federal system of government? a. The United States b. Great Britain c. Canada d. Germany e. Australia

b

Which of the following was not one of the reasons federal grants were attractive to state officials? a. Federal government budget surpluses b. Passage of the Fifteenth Amendment c. The potency of the federal income tax d. The appearance of "free money" for the states e. The ability of the federal government to print money

b

74. Judges have ordered Massachusetts to change the way it hires firefighters, even though the state does not receive aid from the federal government for fire fighting. Such an order is referred to as a a. condition of aid. b. quid pro quo order. c. mandate. d. pro bono requirement. e. per curiam order.

c

According to the text, __________ waivers have generally been easy for state and local governments to get. a. environmental protection b. health policy c. education d. human services e. transportation

c

An interest group with a strong following in only one region of the country would have the best chance to achieve its goals under which type of system? a. Democratic b. Republican c. Federal d. Unitary e. Provincial

c

Block grants began in the mid- a. 1920s. b. 1940s. c. 1960s. d. 1980s. e. 1990s.

c

Categorical grants are supervised by a. individual members of Congress from the relevant states. b. the executive branch. c. special committees of Congress. d. state governors. e. U.S. district courts.

c

One long-term factor which has led to the recent destruction of state budget surpluses relates to a. gubernatorial salaries. b. public utility fraud. c. the pension benefits of public employees. d. highway maintenance. e. declining tourism.

c

One of the reasons that our local governments are independent of the national government is a. Article III of the U.S. Constitution. b. the power of free elections. c. the commitment of Americans to the ideal of local government. d. the fact that the local tax structure requires local administration. e. the Fourteenth Amendment.

c

The Republican effort to pass on to the states many federal functions is known as a. third-order devolution. b. marble-cake federalism. c. devolution. d. neo-institutionalism. e. fragmented federalism.

c

This procedure, which is in effect in over 20 states, permits voters to remove an elected official from office.

c

To qualify for certain federal highway funds, states must allow drivers to make a legal right-hand turn after stopping at a red light. This requirement by the federal government is known as a

c

Which of the following allows national governments the right to alter or even abolish local government? a. A constitutional government b. Federalism c. A unitary system d. Socialism e. A confederation

c

The doctrine of dual federalism grew out of a protracted debate on the subject of

commerce

An important outcome of Marshall's ruling in McCulloch v. Maryland (1819) was to

confirm the supremacy of the federal government in the exercise of the constitutional powers granted to Congress.

76. Which president tried to reverse the trend of Congressional focus on Washington's needs over local needs? a. Clinton b. Carter c. Kennedy d. Reagan e. Ford

d

A 2006 study found that the highest number of unfunded mandates concerned a. intrastate commerce. b. the Internet. c. civil rights. d. the environment. e. education policy.

d

During the 1960s, federal grants to states were increasingly based on a. the demands of the individual states. b. what state officials perceived to be important state needs. c. the power of organized interest groups. d. what federal officials perceived to be national needs. e. the demands of coalitions of states.

d

A categorical grant is a transfer of federal funds designed for a. the private sector. b. discretionary use by a state. c. the accomplishment of broad goals. d. programs with matching grants. e. specific purposes.

e

By 2006, federal aid accounted for about _______ percent of state general revenue. a. 2 b. 10 c. 15 d. 20 e. 30

e

Categorical grants were generally favored by a. federal officials. b. liberal interest groups. c. organized labor. d. the federal bureaucracy. e. All of the above.

e

Federal courts have fueled the growth of mandates through litigation involving a. prison construction. b. school desegregation. c. police brutality. d. the hiring of firefighters. e. All of the above.

e

Federal officials' perceptions of national needs came to dominate the allocation of federal grants during the a. Reagan administration. b. Great Depression. c. World War II era. d. post-Civil War era. e. 1960s.

e

In the United States, programs such as the interstate highway system and services to the unemployed are most accurately considered a. state functions that operate without any involvement on the part of the federal government. b. federal functions, although state governments pay some of the costs. c. state functions that are designated under the Tenth Amendment. d. federal functions that operate without any involvement on the part of state governments. e. state functions, although the federal government seeks to regulate them.

e

Most federal mandates concern a. intrastate commerce. b. the Internet. c. civil rights. d. the environment. e. both C and D.

e

Perhaps the most obvious effect of federalism in the United States has been to a. centralize the government. b. prevent states from blocking national interests. c. increase conflict among elites. d. raise the cost of organized political activity. e. mobilize political activity.

e

President _______ declared, in a State of the Union Address, that the era of big national government was over. a. Bush b. Reagan c. Nixon d. Eisenhower e. Clinton

e

The difference between a mandate and a condition of aid is that a. with a mandate the federal government tells a state government what it must do if it wants grant money. b. a mandate applies to a block grant; a condition of aid applies to a categorical grant. c. a mandate applies to a categorical grant; a condition of aid applies to a block grant. d. with a mandate the federal government allows the state to do as it pleases if its actions are in accordance with federal law. e. with a mandate it makes no difference who is paying the costs of a program.

e

The first form of grant-in-aid to the states made by the federal government to the state governments was that of a. cash grants-in-aid. b. block grants. c. revenue sharing. d. categorical grants. e. land grants.

e

The states play a key role in a. social welfare. b. public education. c. health and hospitals. d. managing water supplies. e. All of the above.

e

Until the 1960s, most federal grants-in-aid were a. conceived by or in cooperation with the states. b. designed to serve essentially sate purposes. c. were supported by large blocs of voters or organized interests. d. designed to serve essentially national purposes. e. A, B, and C.

e

Which of the following statements regarding devolution is incorrect? a. AFDC was ended and replaced by TANF. b. Federal and state spending on most programs increased after 1996. c. Devolution lacked strong public support. d. Devolution seems to have resulted in more, not fewer, government rules and regulations. e. None of the above.

e

Why do members of Congress who represent the interests of localities to the federal government pass laws that create so many problems for the mayors and governors of these localities? a. Because the structure of Congress is such that the interests of localities are rarely taken into account b. Because the power of political parties to influence the votes of party members is so great c. Because mayors and governors frequently resent federal interference in local affairs d. Because most members of Congress regard their role as that of representing the national government to localities e. Because members of Congress often represent different constituencies from the same localities

e

Most nations in the world do not have local units of government true or false

f

The Constitution explicitly grants Congress the right to set up banks and other corporations true or not

f

The Founders envisioned a system in which the national government would have supreme authority over the state governments.

f

There were only a few examples of federal systems in history prior to the Constitutional Convention. true or not

f

Today, most commerce is regulated at the state level. true or false

f

Under a confederation, local units of government have less power than in a federal system. true or false

f

Under a federal system, the national government may alter or even abolish local units. true or false

f

a home-rule charter authorizes a municipality to exercise only those power expressly given or implied by enumerated powers true or false

f

Most matters that are related to crime and punishment are irrelevant to federalism. true or not

false

Most states reacted to the Supreme Court's decision in Kelo v. City of New London (2005) by relaxing standards for government seizure of private property. true or not

false

The Supreme Court has recently ruled that private property can be seized, but only when it will be put to "public use." true or not

false

Applying the principles of Thomas Jefferson to current political issues would probably dispose one to

favor the decentralization of government power.

The concept of separate, sovereign national and state governments is known as

federalism

In Federalist No. 45, Madison describes the powers of state governments as

numerous and indefinite.

For the Founders, federalism was a device to

protect liberty

Most states responded to the Kelo decision by passing laws that

restricted the power of local governments

A general-act charter applies to a number of cities that fall within a certain classification, usually based on population. true or false

t

A special-act charter applies to a specific city and lists what it can and cannot do. true or false

t

Chief Justice Marshall's opinion in the McCulloch case suggested that the United States was not established by the states, but by "the people." true or not

t

Counties are the largest territorial units between a state and a city or town. true or false

t

In McCulloch v. Maryland, the Supreme Court concluded that chartering a bank was within the powers of Congress. true or not

t

In McCulloch v. Maryland, there was an attempt to tax a bank created by Congress. true or not

t

In recent years, the Supreme Court has given new life to the doctrine of state sovereignty in rulings regarding the Tenth and Eleventh Amendments true or false

t

John C. Calhoun's doctrine of nullification was clearly present in the writings of Jefferson and Madison. true or not

t

The Founders intended federalism to be a device whereby personal liberty would be protected true or not

t

The Founders themselves had a hard time agreeing on what was meant by federalism. true or not

t

The Tenth Amendment has rarely had much practical significance true or not

t

The concept of dual federalism grew out of a debate on the issue of commerce. true or not

t

The doctrine of nullification can be reasonably inferred from Hamilton's commentary in Federalist No. 28. true or not

t

The original distinction between interstate and intrastate commerce was based on products' being shipped across state lines. true or false

t

The police power is generally recognized as a state power. true or false

t

The wording of the U.S. Constitution regarding the federal government's right to make laws is purposely vague and elastic. true or not

t

Thomas Jefferson generally thought the powers of the federal government should be narrowly construed and strictly limited true or not

t

The Founders did not include in the U.S. Constitution an explicit statement of state powers but added it later in

the Tenth Amendment.

The doctrine of nullification refers to

the claimed authority of the states to declare a federal law void for violating the U.S. Constitution

The Civil War settled one part of the issue of national supremacy versus states' rights, namely, that

the national government derives its sovereignty from the people

Madison's description of federalism in Federalist No. 46 suggests there should be little concern over conflicts between the federal and state governments because

they are different agents with different powers

Many of the powers of the federal government are exercised through the states. true or false

true

Some states have a minimum wage standard (amount) that is that is higher than the national standard set by Congress. true or not

true

The American experience suggests that many of the Antifederalists' primary concerns were not unwarranted. true or false

true

The Civil War was fought in part over the issue of national supremacy versus states' rights. true or not

true

The smaller the political unit, the more likely it is to be dominated by a single political faction. true or not

true

Under a federal system, the national government may alter or even abolish local units. true or false

true