Question 1

Police powers include

Accepted Answer

A)   those exercised jointly by federal, state, and local authorities.
B)   national security matters.
C)   immigration policy.
D)   conducting elections.E) All of the above
F) A) and C)

Question 2

A principal reason that the federal government's importance in regulating commerce increased in the twentieth century was that economic activity had become more national, making the distinction between interstate and intrastate commerce more difficult to sustain.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 3

Why did a majority of the justices of the Supreme Court strike down the federal Defense of Marriage Act in 2013?

Accepted Answer

A)   The law was judged to violate the equal protection clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.
B)   The law was judged to usurp an area of traditional state authority.
C)   The law was judged to be discriminatory in nature.
D)   The law was judged to violate the due process clause of the Fifth Amendment.E) A) and B)
F) None of the above

Question 4

Which of the following stipulates that if the national government passes an unconstitutional law, the people of the states can declare the law void?

Accepted Answer

A)   doctrine of states' rights
B)   doctrine of coercive federalism
C)   doctrine of nullification
D)   devolutionE) B) and C)
F) C) and D)

Question 5

The principal impact of McCulloch v. Maryland was

Accepted Answer

A)   its decision to interpret the commerce clause broadly, thus giving the national government the ability to become involved in many more policy areas.
B)   its decision to let states interfere in the federal government's business by taxing it.
C)   its ruling that the national government's power to print money did not imply that it could open a bank for regulating the economy.
D)   its expansive interpretation of implied powers and the supremacy clause in favor of the national government.E) None of the above
F) All of the above

Question 6

If a state official wished to challenge the constitutionality of a federal law, which amendment would she or he most likely cite?

Accepted Answer

A)   Eighth
B)   Tenth
C)   Fourteenth
D)   FifteenthE) A) and B)
F) All of the above

Question 7

Which best defines the situation of local governments in the American federal system?

Accepted Answer

A)   They are created by the federal Constitution.
B)   They are created by state governments.
C)   They are formed by popular petition.
D)   They are created by the national and state governments working together.E) B) and D)
F) B) and C)

Question 8

What are categorical grants and block grants? Why might a national political leader favor categorical grants? Why do other national political leaders see block grants as preferable to categorical grants? If you were a member of Congress, which approach would you advocate and why?

Accepted Answer

Categorical grants are federal aid to st...

Question 9

Sovereign power means that

Accepted Answer

A)   the state governments have just as much power as the national government.
B)   each unit of government has some degree of authority and autonomy.
C)   the Constitution recognizes only national authority.
D)   local governments have no authority in the United States.E) A) and B)
F) A) and C)

Question 10

The Violence Against Women Act

Accepted Answer

A)   was passed by the George W. Bush administration.
B)   had strong Democratic support but no Republican support in Congress.
C)   was struck down, in part, by the Supreme Court justices.
D)   was based on the necessary and proper clause of the Constitution.E) B) and C)
F) A) and C)

Question 11

Why is Barron v. Baltimore important?

Accepted Answer

A)   The justices sided with the national government over state governments, giving added power to the supremacy clause.
B)   The justices ruled that Congress did not have the authority to prohibit slavery in any state.
C)   The justices ruled that the Missouri Compromise was unconstitutional.
D)   The justices helped to establish dual federalism as a guiding judicial principle to settle questions concerning state and national power.E) B) and C)
F) A) and B)

Question 12

The decision in United States v. Lopez (1995)  was particularly important because it required Congress to

Accepted Answer

A)   respect the constitutional right of an individual to bear arms.
B)   provide states with funds when it mandates policy change.
C)   amend the Constitution to give states more power.
D)   justify how laws passed are a legitimate exercise of commerce clause powers.E) None of the above
F) All of the above

Question 13

What are the differences between federal, unitary, and confederal systems? Be sure to provide a definition and an example of each system. What are some advantages and disadvantages to each system? In weighing the advantages and disadvantages, which system is more effective from your perspective? Explain.

Accepted Answer

A federal system of government is one wh...

Question 14

The Supreme Court justices' endorsement of laissez-faire capitalism in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries was significant because

Accepted Answer

A)   it gave Congress added powers to regulate private affairs.
B)   it prevented Congress from regulating any economic activity that occurred within a state.
C)   it gave additional freedom to Congress to act under the commerce clause.
D)   it strengthened the full faith and credit clause of the Constitution.E) B) and D)
F) All of the above

Question 15

In 1997, the Supreme Court justices struck down the Religious Freedom Restoration Act. This ruling was significant because it

Accepted Answer

A)   marked a turning point in the justices' interpretation of the Fifth Amendment.
B)   weakened protections for individual civil liberties.
C)   established a new standard to justify the supremacy clause.
D)   established a new standard to justify remedial legislation.E) All of the above
F) A) and C)

Question 16

Americans are more likely to

Accepted Answer

A)   trust their local and state governments over the federal government.
B)   trust the federal government over their local and state governments.
C)   fear executive power when a Democrat is president.
D)   support expanded executive power when a Republican is president.E) A) and C)
F) B) and C)

Question 17

Which part of the Constitution emphasizes a nation-centered perspective?

Accepted Answer

A)   the Eleventh Amendment
B)   public education
C)   the Tenth Amendment
D)   commerce clauseE) A) and B)
F) None of the above

Question 18

The ________ clause is vague but gives the national government a very broad grant of power to carry out its responsibilities.

Accepted Answer

A)   enumerated powers
B)   full faith and credit
C)   supremacy
D)   necessary and properE) A) and D)
F) B) and C)

Question 19

Which part of the Constitution emphasizes a state-centered perspective?

Accepted Answer

A)   Fifth Amendment
B)   commerce clause
C)   forging treaties with foreign nations
D)   amending the U.S. ConstitutionE) A) and D)
F) A) and C)

Question 20

Why are local governments still considered important to citizens?

Accepted Answer

A)   They provide services such as police and fire protection.
B)   They control immigration policy.
C)   They are exclusively responsible for all transportation policy.
D)   They are less likely to be corrupt than state or national government officials.E) C) and D)
F) None of the above

Exam 3: Federalism

The decision in United States v. Lopez (1995) was particularly important because it required Congress to

Correct Answer
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Why are local governments still considered important to citizens?

Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
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A federal system of government is one wh...
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Police powers include

Correct Answer
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Americans are more likely to

Correct Answer
verified

Which best defines the situation of local governments in the American federal system?

Correct Answer
verified

The Supreme Court justices' endorsement of laissez-faire capitalism in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries was significant because

Correct Answer
verified

In 1997, the Supreme Court justices struck down the Religious Freedom Restoration Act. This ruling was significant because it

Correct Answer
verified

The Violence Against Women Act

Correct Answer
verified

Why is Barron v. Baltimore important?

Correct Answer
verified

Why did a majority of the justices of the Supreme Court strike down the federal Defense of Marriage Act in 2013?

Correct Answer
verified

Which part of the Constitution emphasizes a nation-centered perspective?

Correct Answer
verified

A principal reason that the federal government's importance in regulating commerce increased in the twentieth century was that economic activity had become more national, making the distinction between interstate and intrastate commerce more difficult to sustain.

Correct Answer
verified

Sovereign power means that

Correct Answer
verified

Which part of the Constitution emphasizes a state-centered perspective?

Correct Answer
verified

Which of the following stipulates that if the national government passes an unconstitutional law, the people of the states can declare the law void?

Correct Answer
verified

If a state official wished to challenge the constitutionality of a federal law, which amendment would she or he most likely cite?

Correct Answer
verified

The ________ clause is vague but gives the national government a very broad grant of power to carry out its responsibilities.

Correct Answer
verified

The principal impact of McCulloch v. Maryland was

Correct Answer
verified

What are categorical grants and block grants? Why might a national political leader favor categorical grants? Why do other national political leaders see block grants as preferable to categorical grants? If you were a member of Congress, which approach would you advocate and why?

Correct Answer
verified
Categorical grants are federal aid to st...
View Answer

Exam 3: Federalism

The decision in United States v. Lopez (1995) was particularly important because it required Congress to

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Why are local governments still considered important to citizens?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Correct AnswerverifiedA federal system of government is one wh...View AnswerShow Answer

Police powers include

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Americans are more likely to

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which best defines the situation of local governments in the American federal system?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The Supreme Court justices' endorsement of laissez-faire capitalism in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries was significant because

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

In 1997, the Supreme Court justices struck down the Religious Freedom Restoration Act. This ruling was significant because it

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The Violence Against Women Act

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Why is Barron v. Baltimore important?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Why did a majority of the justices of the Supreme Court strike down the federal Defense of Marriage Act in 2013?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which part of the Constitution emphasizes a nation-centered perspective?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

A principal reason that the federal government's importance in regulating commerce increased in the twentieth century was that economic activity had become more national, making the distinction between interstate and intrastate commerce more difficult to sustain.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Sovereign power means that

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which part of the Constitution emphasizes a state-centered perspective?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which of the following stipulates that if the national government passes an unconstitutional law, the people of the states can declare the law void?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

If a state official wished to challenge the constitutionality of a federal law, which amendment would she or he most likely cite?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The ________ clause is vague but gives the national government a very broad grant of power to carry out its responsibilities.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The principal impact of McCulloch v. Maryland was

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

What are categorical grants and block grants? Why might a national political leader favor categorical grants? Why do other national political leaders see block grants as preferable to categorical grants? If you were a member of Congress, which approach would you advocate and why?

Correct AnswerverifiedCategorical grants are federal aid to st...View AnswerShow Answer

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A federal system of government is one wh...
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Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
verified
Categorical grants are federal aid to st...
View Answer