GOVT 2306 Chapter 1: Federalism

Delegated powers

powers explicitly assigned to the national government in the U.S. Constitution.

Reserved powers

powers granted exclusively to state governments.

Concurrent powers

powers shared among the national government and the state governments.

Unfunded mandates

programs or regulations that the federal government requires the state governments to administer without providing any federal funds to offset the cost.

Nationalists

proponents of a version of federalism who see states not as independent actors, but as agents for implementing federal policy.

Why is the codification of crimes and punishments considered a concurrent power? A. because the authority to do so is shared by both the national and state governments B. because only state governments have the right to codify crimes and punishments C. because only the national government has the right to codify crimes and punishments D. because each state must approve all crimes established by the national government

A. because the authority to do so is shared by both the national and state governments

Why did the state of Texas sue the U.S. Department of Labor in March 2015? A. for allowing federal medical leave for same-sex couples B. for denying health insurance to same-sex couples C. for denying federal medical leave to same-sex couples D. for allowing same-sex couples to receive free health insurance benefits

A. for allowing federal medical leave for same-sex couples

Why did Texas join six other states in suing the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services? A. for requiring religious organizations to subsidize contraception B. for requiring religious organizations to subsidize abortions C. for requiring religious organizations to subsidize gender-reassignment surgery D. for requiring religious organizations to subsidize fertility treatments

A. for requiring religious organizations to subsidize contraception

What do critics of cooperative federalism want? A. less federal involvement in state governance B. increased regulations on grant money C. more grant money from the federal government D. an end to federal funding to the states

A. less federal involvement in state governance

According to the text, what factor is important for a deep understanding of Texans' attitudes about efforts by the state government to resist policy created by the federal government? A. partisan differences B. age differences C. income differences D. gender differences

A. partisan differences

How many lawsuits did the state of Texas file against the federal government between 2009 and 2016? A. 20 B. 48 C. 68 D. 11

B. 48

How has Rick Perry's role changed in the conflict between the state of Texas and the federal government? A. He frequently went on record as supporting the work of the U.S. Department of Energy while he was serving as governor. B. As governor, he supported federal influence, but he has changed his approach since leaving office. C. As governor, he resisted federal influence, but he is now enforcing federal regulations as head of the U.S. Department of Energy. D. His role has not changed in relation to the conflict between the federal government and the state of Texas.

C. As governor, he resisted federal influence, but he is now enforcing federal regulations as head of the U.S. Department of Energy.

Which state function receives the largest portion of its funding from the federal government? A. education B. public safety and criminal justice C. the judiciary D. Health and Human Services

D. Health and Human Services

Block grants

federal grants given to state governments for general purposes. Block grants offer the state some flexibility in determining how to spend the funds.

Categorical grants

federal grants given to state governments for specific purposes. Categorical grants allow the state minimal discretion in determining how to spend the funds.

Prior to the 1930's, how did the U.S. Supreme Court respond to conflicts between the national and state governments? A. The Court generally supported dual federalism. B. The Court was inconsistent in its support for dual federalism. C. The Court supported the expansion of federal power. D. The Court generally challenged dual federalism.

A. The Court generally supported dual federalism.

What conclusions can be drawn from the two charts above? A. Democrats are more likely to approve of the state government but disapprove of the federal government. B. Republicans are more likely to approve of the state government but disapprove of the federal government. C. Republicans are more likely to approve of the federal government but disapprove of the state government. D. Independents are more likely to approve of the federal government but disapprove of the state government.

B. Republicans are more likely to approve of the state government but disapprove of the federal government.

What contradiction do critics see in the position of supporters of "states' rights"? A. Supporters of states' rights question Texas leaders' resistance to the national government and mistrust of state officials. B. Supporters of states' rights agree to take federal money but resist federal direction on policy. C. Supporters of states' rights are pragmatic about state government but uncompromising about national government power. D. Supporters of states' rights accept oversight from the national government but reject oversight by state government.

B. Supporters of states' rights agree to take federal money but resist federal direction on policy.

What is the basic argument of the "states' rights" doctrine? A. States can sue one another. B. States can sue the federal government for additional aid. C. States have the autonomy to pass, enforce, and interpret their own laws. D. States have a duty to uphold conservative values.

C. States have the autonomy to pass, enforce, and interpret their own laws

What is an unfunded mandate? A. a federal promise to deliver funding that is never fulfilled B. a federal requirement that is funded after the program is complete C. a federal requirement that puts the burden of cost on the states D. a federal request for the return of block grant money

C. a federal requirement that puts the burden of cost on the states

The establishment of a new city or county is an example of which type of power? A. delegated B. concurrent C. reserved D. expressed

C. reserved

What does the marble cake symbolize in the context of federalism? A. Supreme Court support for states' rights B. Supreme Court support for the expansion of federal power C. the intermingling of power among the national and state governments D. clear and distinct boundaries between the national and state governments

C. the intermingling of power among the national and state governments

Why was the Necessary and Proper Clause written into the Constitution? A. to allow the national government to dissolve a state government when necessary B. to restrict the expansion of the national government's powers C. to allow the national government to create new laws necessary for carrying out its powers D. to allow the state governments to create new laws that can take powers from the national government

C. to allow the national government to create new laws necessary for carrying out its powers

According to the text, Republican attitudes toward state government are dependent on what factor besides their general views on the balance of power in the federal system? A. a strong anti-government bent B. distrust of party officials C. whether or not their party is in power D. support for bipartisan compromise

C. whether or not their party is in power

What is an important characteristic of a confederal system? A. City and county governments are stronger than state governments. B. It has a strong central authority. C. Most policy is handed down by a central government. D. It has a weak central authority.

D. It has a weak central authority.

Which of the following BEST describes the attitude of state officials toward federal funding? A. State officials do not want federal funding and are seeking ways to refuse it. B. State officials are content with the conditions that come with federal funding. C. State officials would like greater federal oversight of how the money is spent. D. State officials want the money but dislike the conditions that come with it.

D. State officials want the money but dislike the conditions that come with it.

What do public opinion polls reveal about the attitudes of Texans toward their state government? A. Texans disapprove of the job of their state legislature, and they believe that the state government is a bad model for other states. B. Texans disapprove of the performance of Texas courts, but they approve of the performance of the state legislature. C. Texans do not think that their state government is a good model for other states, but they approve of the performance of their state legislature. D. Texans generally approve of the job done by their state government, but they are more disapproving of the performance of their state legislature.

D. Texans generally approve of the job done by their state government, but they are more disapproving of the performance of their state legislature.

What do public opinion polls reveal about Texans' attitudes toward the federal government? A. A majority of Texans approve of the performance of the federal government. B. Texans trust the federal government more than they trust the state government. C. A majority of Texans approve of the job Congress is doing. D. Texans generally have an unfavorable view of the performance of the federal government.

D. Texans generally have an unfavorable view of the performance of the federal government.

Why is the expansion of power by the national government controversial for advocates of states' rights? A. They are concerned that the national government will appropriate tax revenues collected by the states. B. They believe the expansion of federal power violates the autonomy granted to states by the Necessary and Proper Clause. C. They are of the opinion that the Tenth Amendment only allows the national government to regulate the economy. D. They believe the expansion of federal power violates the autonomy granted to states by the Tenth Amendment.

D. They believe the expansion of federal power violates the autonomy granted to states by the Tenth Amendment.

Which grants allow for the greatest latitude in how states spend the money? A. flex grants B. grants-in-aid C. categorical grants D. block grants

D. block grants

What change brought about by the New Deal allowed for the development of cooperative federalism? A. the Tenth Amendment B. fewer Supreme Court rulings C. the Necessary and Proper Clause D. greater federal funding

D. greater federal funding

Unitary systems

a system of government consisting of a single layer that oversees the creation and implementation of policy at all levels.

Confederal systems

a system of government in which the state governments possess more power than the national government.