Government Test Chapters 5, 6, and 7

Which level of government is not mentioned in the constitution?

Local Government

What two political forces help preserve the division between the state and national levels of government?

National/state office holders, and political parties.

Breifly describe the New Deal and the great society and explain how they impacted federalism.

New deal was a series of social and economic make work projects. The Great Society was a series of movements aimed at eliminating poverty. They both impacted federalism by expanding the powers of National Government.

Is it a good or bad idea for states to accept federal funds for public education?

No.

Evaluate the validity of the statement "There ought to be a law against that."

Not gud. Because that implies a need to rely on the state.

What is popular sovereignty? Where is this principle most accurately expressed in the constitution?

Popular sovereignty is the people, who are the source of the government's authority. In provisions for amendments and representation this principle is expressed.

Describe the concept of Dual Federalism.

Under dual federalism of national and state governments were sovereign within their own spheres.

What are the two major phases in the amendment process?

1. Amendment proposal 2. Ratification

What six basic principles are the foundation of the constitution?

1. Limited Government 2. Separation of powers 3. Checks and Balances 4. Federalism 5. Popular Sovereignty 6. Judicial Review

What are block grants?

A grant from a central government that a local authority can allocate to a wide range of services.

What are the various ways an amendment may pass through these phases?

Amendment proposal: This is the formal introduction of an amendment. It can be made either by a 2/3 majority in both houses of congress or by a national convention called at the request of 2/3s of the states. This phase is largely a federal responsibility. Ratification: This phase is a state-level responsibility. Ratification can be passed either by 3/4 of the states' legislators or by the approval of 3/4 of special state ratification conventions.

Explain why the necessary and proper clause is sometimes called the elastic clause:

Because is enlarges the scope of national power and can stretch to cover congressional acts.

Define federalism.

Federalism is a system in which governmental power is divided into two or more levels, usually a central government and component state governments.

Why did Hamilton believe that judicial review is necessary?

Hamilton believed judicial review is necessary to review the constitutionality of laws passed by the legislative branch or of the constitutionality of actions taken by the judicial branch.

What four constitutional obligations does the national government have in relation to the states?

It must honor the state's territorial rights, must guarantee a republican form of government, must protect the states from foreign invasion, and protect the states from domestic violence.

Which two president spoke of "New Federalism".?

Ronald Raegan and Richard Nixon

Federalism involves a division of powers between different levels of government. Why is it important for citizens to know which responsibilities are assigned to a particular level of government?

So forces cannot blur the lines of distinction and strengthen the national role at the state's expense. That way, if they have any complaints, they know where to go.

Explain the "necessary and proper clause"

Sometimes called the elastic clause, it gives the congress the authority to complete its tasks. It stretches to give congress that authority.

Which two levels of government are mentioned in the constitution?

State and National

How does the role of the states differ today from their role in the early years of the American republic?

States were much more isolated due to the fact that travel between states took much more time, so the state government was much more influential due to the federal government being weaker.

What is the difference between a strict constructionist and a broad constructionist.

Strict Constructionists are those who believe that interpretations of the constitution should be kept to a minimum. Also known as originalists, they stick strictly to following the constitution's text. Broad Constructionists take a broader, more flexible approach to the constitution and its interpretation.

Which constitutional amendment guarantees the reserved powers of the states and of the people?

The 10th Amendment.

What event in America's history significantly shifted Americans' perception of the federal government?

The Great Depression

What event firmly established the supremacy of the federal government?

The civil war

Explain revenue sharing.

The distribution of a portion of federal tax revenues to state and local governments.

What is the obvious disadvantage of checks and balances? What benefits overshadow this disadvantage?

The obvious disadvantage is that checks and balances are inefficient as a process to allow a branch to function properly. The benefit is that the inefficiency limits government power and protects personal liberty.

How did a knowledge of human nature help the framers of the constitution?

The recognized human's desire to sin, as well as freedom and capacity to govern.

What is the difference between separation of powers and checks and balances?

The separation of powers divides powers, while checks and balances thwart the accumulation of powers.

Provide a basic description of categorical grants.

They're given to state and local governments with specific instructions.