Quiz 3

The commerce clause of the Constitution grants Congress the power to regulate interstate commerce. Which of the following might be an implied power that Congress would have to complete this task?

Setting a federal minimum wage

The necessary and proper clause is best defined as which of the following?

Congress has the power to carry out its enumerated powers

A senator wants to incentivize higher education for students from low-income families and wants to provide clear guidelines on how states must implement those incentives. Which type of grant should she propose?

A categorical grant

Which of the following describes a way that the federal government could influence state spending on education?

Issuing a mandate tying federal block grants to the amount of state spending per pupil

Which response illustrates the best rationale for the type of grant fitting this scenario?

Block grants provide states with a great deal of flexibility in using federal funds to address specific local needs

Which of the following is an accurate comparison of the two court cases?

Comparison B

Which of the following statements is most consistent with President Obama's argument in this passage?

State and local governments can become proving grounds for new ideas

This scenario is an example of which of the following aspects of federalism?

The changing balance of power between the states and federal government in response to societal needs

In 1974, Congress created a program that grants money to state and local governments to help revitalize low-income communities. State and local governments can decide how best to use their money and used it to rebuild streets, fund libraries, and fix drinking water systems.

Block grants

Which of the following scenarios would violate the Tenth Amendment?

Congress passing a law raising the minimum driving age to 21

Which of the following describes an exclusive power of the federal government?

Coining money

Which of the following is an accurate comparison of the exclusive and concurrent powers of the federal government?

Comparison C

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

Congress cannot use the commerce clause to regulate the possession of firearms in public schools

Which of the following statements best summarizes the decision in McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)?

Congress has implied powers not listed in the Constitution in order to implement its enumerated powers

Which of the following describes a difficulty that the state government may face in the policy implementation process?

Due to the "privileges and immunities" clause of Article IV, poorer citizens of other states might move to Maryland in order to take advantage of the benefits

During the 1980s, members of the Republican Party advocated for devolution (transferring responsibilities for programs from the federal government to state and local governments). Which of the following describes a difficulty Congress might face in implementing devolution?

Due to the concurrent powers of state and national government, many programs are administered by both state and federal agencies

Examine the map and answer the question below. Public Education Spending, 2014

Education spending is determined by state governments, not the federal government

Based on the ruling in McCulloch v. Maryland (1819), what is the difference between enumerated powers and implied powers?

Enumerated powers are powers that the Constitution explicitly grants to the federal government, whereas implied powers are not explicitly written but are necessary for carrying out enumerated powers

Which of the following constitutional principles best explains why there was variation among states on the legality of same-sex marriage?

Federalism

In 1984, Congress passed the National Minimum Drinking Age Act of 1984, stipulating that states must have a minimum drinking age of 21 in order to receive federal highway funding. This is an example of which of the following aspects of federal incentives?

Mandates

Which of the following Supreme Court cases established that federal laws have supremacy over state laws?

McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)

Which of the following is a consequence of federalism in the United States?

National policymaking is held in check

Which of the following actions by the federal government would most likely be considered an implied power based on the precedent established by McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)?

Outlawing the recreational use of marijuana

In 2015, the Supreme Court heard a case challenging laws in several states that refused to recognize legal same-sex marriages. Which of the following actions could a group who supported the legalization of same-sex marriage take to influence the Supreme Court decision?

Petition to file a brief on behalf of the same-sex couple involved in the case

Which of the following is the best definition of exclusive powers?

Powers reserved to the federal government or state governments, not shared by both

In the 1960s, the federal government passed the Civil Rights Act and the Voting Rights Act, which compelled state and local governments to desegregate public schools and public places. This is an example of which of the following aspects of federalism in the United States?

Pressure at the national level can force state and local policy changes

Which of the following is a consequence of the allocation of power between the national government and state governments?

Stakeholders and institutions have multiple access points to influence public policy

Which of the following scenarios would be considered an unconstitutional use of state power?

Requiring Amish students to attend school until age 16 despite their religious beliefs

Before the Nineteenth Amendment to the US Constitution granted women the right to vote nationwide, 13 states allowed women the right to vote in their state elections. This is an example of which of the following aspects of federalism in the United States?

State and local governments can become proving grounds for new ideas

In 1972, both houses of Congress passed the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA), a Constitutional amendment guaranteeing equal rights for all citizens regardless of sex. However, the amendment failed, as three-quarters of the states did not ratify it before the deadline expired.

The sharing of power between states and the federal government constrains national policymaking

In 1993, Congress passed the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act, which required background checks for gun purchases from licensed gun dealers. The bill required local chief law enforcement officers to perform background checks on prospective handgun purchasers until the Attorney General created a federal system to do this task. Two county sheriffs sued the United States, arguing that the law was an unconstitutional use of federal power. The case, Printz v. United States, went to the Supreme Court, which ruled in favor of the county sheriffs. The Court ruled that the necessary and proper clause does not give the federal government the power to require local law enforcement to fulfill the federal task of performing background checks. This is an example of which of the following aspects of federalism in the United States?

The system of checks and balances between the branches of the federal government constrains policymaking

Shana has a daughter in a public school whose students take a national reading test each year. Shana strongly disagrees with the test's methods and believes the test should either be replaced or eliminated.

Run for a seat on her local school board in order to influence her district not to use the test