The Constitution and Federalism

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 Constitution?

Suppose the state of Nevada recieves federal money to renovate McCarran International Airport. What best describes this?

a. a categorical grant

A major argument in favor of reducing the separation of powers called for the Constitution is that it would?

a. allow prompt, decisive leadership in times of crisis

Supreme Court justices were given tenure subject to good behavior by the framers of the Constitution in order to ensure that

a. justices are free from direct political pressures

The reserved powers of the state governments can be best described as those powers?

a. not specifically granted to the national government or denied to the states

For the Founders, federalism was a device to

a. protect liberty

Block grants have enjoyed only marginal success, in part because?

a. the federal government steadily increased the number of strings attached to such grants

Why do states prefer block grants to categorical grants?

b. Block grants allow states to spend funds on any government purpose.

When a locality is required by federal law to do something, regardless of whether it recieves federal funding for that purpose, this duty is called?

b. mandate

The Federalist No. 10, James Madison argued that factions in a republic are?

b. natural but controllable by institutions

Which is a procedure that enables voters to reject a measure adopted by the legislature?

b. referendum

The doctrine of nullification refers to?

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

Which of the following best describes the impacts of the Tenth Amendment?

c. It has rarely had much practical significance.

The early cheif justice whose decisions generally gave the broadest sweep to federal powers was

c. Roger Taney

In ruling that the government cannot require local police to conduct background checks on all gun purchases, the Court held that to do so would be a violation of the ______ Amendment?

c. Tenth

Collecting taxes, building roads, borrowing money, and establishing courts would be an example of _____ powers?

c. concurrent

The Republican effort to pass on the states many federal functions is known as

c. devolution

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires states and local governments to provide equal access for the disabled. This is an example of a(n)

c. mandate

Enumerated powers of the federal government include all of the following EXCEPT the power to?

c. regulate interstate commerce

The US Constitutions failed to outlaw slavery because?

c. southern support was essential the adoption of the document

The Constitution contained no bill of rights because, among other things?

c. the Framers thought they were creating a with specific, limited powers

One example of the constitutional checks and balances is?

c. the House can impeach federal judges and the president, and the House holds the impeachment trial

What did the Supreme Court determine in McCulloch v. Maryland?

d. I, II, IV

In a federal system of government, political power is primarily

d. divided between the central government and regional governments

States have found federal funding attractive for all of the following reasons EXCEPT?

d. federal grants rarely come with strings attached

Until the 1960s, most federal grants-in-aid were?

e. A,B, and C

Which of the following statements regarding factions would Madison disagree with?

e. None of the above

Presidents have less power to block spending than most state governments. What best explains the difference in executive power

e. The president must sign all of the bill into law, while most governors have the power of line-item-veto.

Most amendments to the Constitution have been ratified by the vote of?

e. Three/fourths of the state legislatures

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

e. both A and C

The concept that the national government is supreme in its own sphere while the states are equallly supreme in theirs is known as

e. dual federalism

Those who would support a reduction in the separation of powers might argue for all of the following EXCEPT?

e. extending the term length for senators

The founding fathers created a federal system for all of the following reasons EXCEPT?

e. federal systems were common throughout the world and were proven to be effective

The congressional power that has been contested most frequently in the federal courts is the power to?

e. regulate interstate commerce

In the Federalist Papers, James Madison argues that political liberty is best protected by?

e. the fragmentation of political power in a large republic