Unit 1 Gov

Which of the following is an example of checks and balances?

A rule issued by a bureaucratic agency may be declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court.

Based on The Federalist 21, which of the following arguments about government would Hamilton likely agree with?

As a practical matter, the laws of the national government ought to have supremacy over state laws.

Which of the following best explains how the view of the author of the passage compares with The Federalist 51 regarding separation of powers and checks and balances?

Both the author of the passage and The Federalist 51 assert that the structure of government helps control ambitions among the branches in such a way as to promote effective government.

Arizona enacted an immigration law in 2010, claiming the legislation complemented existing federal law. The Obama administration disagreed, claiming the state law conflicted with national law. Which clause of the Constitution did the Supreme Court most likely use to strike down a section of the state law?

Supremacy clause

By using the phrase "creative federalism," President Johnson is most likely referring to which of the following features of the American system?

The relationship between the federal and state governments evolves over time and is flexible enough to permit new forms of interaction.

All of the following are consequences of the federal system in the United States EXCEPT

a strict division of power among levels of government

Diversity of public policy throughout the United States is primarily a consequence of

federalism

Which of the following best summarizes the decision of the Supreme Court in the case of United States v. Lopez (1995) ?

Congress does not have the authority under the commerce clause to pass a law forbidding possession of a firearm in a school zone.

Which of the following is a consequence of the dynamic competition among branches of government described in the passage?

Effective policy change among governmental levels and branches occurs with little long-term abuse of authority.

In what respect does the Constitution address Washington's concern regarding the "spirit of encroachment" expressed in the excerpt?

The Constitution distributes power across national institutions.

Which of the following scenarios best illustrates the concept of concurrent powers?

The federal government provides about 25% of the total funding for highways and transit in the United States, while the other 75% of the funding comes from states.

Which of the following is an example of how separation of powers creates friction between the executive and legislative branches in the policy-making process?

The president threatens to issue an executive order for stricter gun control if Congress continues to refuse to take action.

Concurrent powers have which of the following effects on the United States political system?

They make it possible for the states and the national government to simultaneously exercise influence in the same areas of public policy.

The decision in United States v. Lopez (1995) reflected new ideas about federalism at the time that can be best characterized by which of the following?

A delegation of power from the federal government to state governments, increasing state and local sovereignty

Which of the following actions did President Johnson suggest he would take to address problems in public schools?

Calling on experts to advise the federal government in finding ways to improve public education

Which of the following is a consequence of having concurrent powers within a federal system of government?

Citizens and interest groups seeking policy change can choose from multiple access points.

South Carolina passed a law to increase the state tax on gasoline to help fund repairs on highways and bridges. The state tax is in addition to the federal tax on every gallon of gasoline that is sold. Which of the following constitutional provisions does this scenario illustrate?

Concurrent powers

Which constitutional principle best explains the differences in poverty rates presented in the map?

Enumerated powers

Which of the following constitutional principles best explains why there is variation among states on the use of capital punishment?

Federalism

The author explains that the powers given to each branch "sometimes appear to swing like a pendulum" from one branch to another. Which of the following best describes how these shifts ensure that constitutional government is functional?

Separation of powers divides responsibilities and authority between branches, which allows each branch to be checked by the other two branches to ensure accountability.

Which of the following is an accurate description of the decision in United States v. Lopez (1995) ?

The Gun-Free School Zones Act of 1990 was struck down as unconstitutional because it exceeded the commerce clause.

In the passage, Hamilton is concerned that under the Articles of Confederation, the federal government does not have sufficient constitutional powers to gain compliance from state governments. Which of the following is a way that the Constitution allows the federal government to address this problem?

The federal government can pass laws that allow it to fine or tax individuals directly.

Which of the following scenarios illustrates a solution for the problem of getting states to comply with federal government policies, as described in the passage?

The federal government can withhold highway funds from states that do not raise the age to drink alcohol to 21.

Which of the following is an accurate description of the decision in McCulloch v. Maryland (1819) ?

The federal government had the authority to establish a national bank, and Maryland's tax was unconstitutional.

Which of the following is commonly identified as a failure of the Articles of Confederation?

The national government lacked an effective power to raise revenue.

In the 1780s, proponents of the new Constitution cited Shays' Rebellion as an example in support of which of the following criticisms of the national government under the Articles of Confederation?

There was a lack of a national military power to address security concerns.