Ch 3

Question 1

In a unitary system of government, ultimate government authority is located at

a. the state or provincial level.
b. the local or municipal level.
c. the regional level.
d. the national or central level.
e. the state or provincial level and the local or municipal level.

Answer 1

d. the national or central level.

Question 2

A _____________ system of government is one in which the central government has ______________.

a. federal; almost all the power
b. unitary; equal power with the states/provinces
c. unitary; almost all the power
d. federal; almost no real power
e. confederal; almost all the power

Answer 2

c. unitary; almost all the power

Question 3

All of the following are true of a confederation or confederate political system except

a. a confederation is a league of independent states.
b. in a confederation, a central government handles only matters delegated to it by the member states.
c. the United States was a confederation.
d. a confederation gives most of the power to the member states.
e. a confederate system is the same thing as a federal system.

Answer 3

e. a confederate system is the same thing as a federal system.

Question 4

All of the following are true except

a. in unitary systems, the power is held by the central government.
b. in confederal systems, the power is held by the subdivisional units or states.
c. in federal systems, the power is held jointly by the national government and the subdivisional units or states.
d. in federal systems, the power is held by the national government.
e. in unitary systems, the power is not held by the subdivisional units or states.

Answer 4

d. in federal systems, the power is held by the national government.

Question 5

In a federal political system, authority is

a. always vested in a bicameral legislature.
b. divided between the central government and regional or subdivisional governments.
c. bestowed upon the central government, with no power being granted to the regional governments.
d. concentrated in a unicameral legislature within a strong central government.
e. exercised by the national government only insofar as these powers are granted by the states.

Answer 5

b. divided between the central government and regional or subdivisional governments.

Question 6

State laws that have legalized the medical or recreational uses of marijuana conflict with federal law and may be invalidated because of

a. the necessary and proper clause.
b. the supremacy clause.
c. the commerce clause.
d. reserved powers.
e. the necessary and proper clause and the commerce clause.

Answer 6

b. the supremacy clause

Question 7

The expressed or enumerated powers include the ability of the federal government to

a. coin money, set standards for weights and measures, and determine rules for citizenship.
b. declare war and establish post offices.
c. increase the number of federal courts.
d. set up the national central banking system.
e. coin money, set standards for weights and measures, and determine rules for citizenship; and to declare war and establish post offices.

Answer 7

e. coin money, set standards for weights and measures, and determine rules for citizenship; and to declare war and establish post offices.

Question 8

Inherent powers derive from the fact that the United States is

a. a democratic republic.
b. a confederation formed by state governments.
c. a sovereign power among nations.
d. a federal system.
e. explicitly entitled by the Constitution to annex new territory.

Answer 8

c. a sovereign power among nations.

Question 9

The police power is

a. the authority to legislate for the health, welfare, safety, and morals of the people.
b. reserved for the federal government to fight terrorism.
c. delegated to the states to make laws not prohibited by the national or state constitutions.
d. the power of local police to stop drivers suspected of being illegal immigrants.
e. the authority to legislate for the health, welfare, safety, and morals of the people, and is delegated to the states to make laws not prohibited by the national or state constitutions.

Answer 9

e. the authority to legislate for the health, welfare, safety, and morals of the people, and is delegated to the states to make laws not prohibited by the national or state constitutions.

Question 10

All of the following would be included in the inherent powers of the national government except

a. making treaties.
b. waging war.
c. providing for the general welfare.
d. engaging in trade.
e. acquiring territory.

Answer 10

c. providing for the general welfare.

Question 11

All of the following would be included in the inherent powers of the national government except

a. making treaties.
b. waging war.
c. providing for the general welfare.
d. engaging in trade.
e. acquiring territory.

Answer 11

c. providing for the general welfare.

Question 12

State governments have the ________________ but lack the ___________________.

a. enumerated powers; reserved powers
b. reserved powers; concurrent powers
c. concurrent powers; reserved powers
d. reserved and concurrent powers; enumerated and inherent powers
e. reserved and enumerated powers; inherent powers

Answer 12

d. reserved and concurrent powers; enumerated and inherent powers

Question 13

Powers held jointly by the national and state governments are called

a. cooperative powers.
b. statutory powers.
c. reserved powers.
d. concurrent powers.
e. inherent powers.

Answer 13

d. concurrent powers.

Question 14

States have the power to ________________ but cannot _________________.

a. impose taxes on income and license marriages; make treaties or wage war with foreign nations
b. enter into treaties with foreign nations; wage war
c. regulate marriage and divorce; impose taxes on income
d. impose taxes on income; license marriages
e. enter into treaties with foreign nations and regulate marriage and divorce; wage war or impose taxes on income.

Answer 14

a. impose taxes on income and license marriages; make treaties or wage war with foreign nations

Question 15

The national government cannot create a national divorce law system because

a. certain powers are reserved for the states.
b. the Constitution prohibits a number of powers to the national government.
c. the regulation of marriage is explicitly reserved for state governments in the Constitution.
d. certain powers are reserved for the states and the Constitution prohibits a number of powers to the national government.
e. All of these choices are true.

Answer 15

d. certain powers are reserved for the states and the Constitution prohibits a number of powers to the national government.

Question 16

States may enter into agreements called interstate compacts

a. with congressional approval on major matters.
b. without congressional approval on minor matters.
c. to settle matters in chronic dispute between two or more states.
d. to manage water resources that cross state lines.
e. All of these choices are true.

Answer 16

e. All of these choices are true.

Question 17

The controversy that led to the Civil War was

a. the dispute over states’ rights and national supremacy.
b. interstate commerce.
c. the application of the Bill of Rights to the states.
d. taxation.
e. the admission of Texas into the union.

Answer 17

a. the dispute over states’ rights and national supremacy.

Question 18

Despite the South’s desire for ______________, the Civil War actually brought about ______________.

a. increased states’ rights; a stronger national government
b. the expansion of slavery; a competitive, free labor force
c. a strong national government; regionalism in politics
d. free trade; significant export taxes
e. None of these choices is true.

Answer 18

a. increased states’ rights; a stronger national government

Question 19

The Civil War amendments

a. abolished slavery.
b. sought to guarantee equal rights under state laws.
c. gave the right to vote to African Americans.
d. defined who was a citizen of the United States.
e. All of these choices are true.

Answer 19

e. All of these choices are true.

Question 20

A style of federalism in which the states and national government act as equals with independent spheres of authority is

a. fiscal federalism.
b. mandate federalism.
c. New Deal federalism.
d. cooperative federalism
e. dual federalism.

Answer 20

e. dual federalism.

Question 21

A government program that is funded by the national government but run and managed by state governments is emblematic of

a. dual federalism.
b. cooperative federalism.
c. enumerated powers.
d. reserved powers.
e. the supremacy clause.

Answer 21

b. cooperative federalism.

Question 22

Categorical grants are

a. federal grants to state or local governments for specific programs.
b. emergency grants to states for unforeseen circumstances.
c. a very recent form of national government support to school districts.
d. unconstitutional because of separation of powers.
e. None of these choices is true.

Answer 22

a. federal grants to state or local governments for specific programs.

Question 23

A federal grant that funds a general functional area with fewer restrictions on the states is a

a. matching grant.
b. program grant.
c. federal mandate.
d. block grant.
e. waiver.

Answer 23

d. block grant.

Question 24

Competitive federalism can cause

a. states to compete for business investment.
b. financial pressures as states try to respond to demands for services.
c. state revenue shortfalls for essential programs like pension funds.
d. states to cooperate for business investment.
e. states to compete for business investment; financial pressures as states try to respond to demands for services; and state revenue shortfalls for essential programs like pension funds.

Answer 24

e. states to compete for business investment; financial pressures as states try to respond to demands for services; and state revenue shortfalls for essential programs like pension funds.

Question 25

__________ have traditionally favored state government over federal government.

a. Liberals
b. Conservatives
c. Socialists
d. Southern states
e. Individuals who are culturally conservative but economically liberal

Answer 25

b. Conservatives

Question 26

In regard to federalism

a. conflicts between states and the federal government have largely subsided.
b. expansion of national authority has typically been an engine of social change.
c. often states’ rights are not used to support the status quo.
d. All of these choices are true.
e. None of these choices is true.

Answer 26

b. expansion of national authority has typically been an engine of social change.

Question 27

In the years after 1968, there was a transfer of power from the national government to the state governments. This transfer of power is called

a. cooperative federalism.
b. revolution.
c. regression.
d. devolution.
e. dual federalism.

Answer 27

d. devolution.

Question 28

The U.S. Supreme Court

a. has the final say on constitutional issues.
b. plays a significant role in determining the line between federal and state powers.
c. has given increased emphasis to state powers under the Tenth Amendment.
d. All of these choices are true.
e. None of these choices is true.

Answer 28

d. All of these choices are true.

Question 29

While most __________ would be pleased that the Supreme Court upheld the individual insurance mandate of the Affordable Care Act, most __________ would be encouraged that the Court made Medicaid expansion optional for the states.

a. conservatives; libertarians
b. conservatives; liberals
c. socialists; liberals
d. libertarians; states’ rights advocates
e. liberals; conservatives

Answer 29

e. liberals; conservatives

Question 30

Through recent decisions on immigration and voting rights, the Supreme Court has

a. sent a consistently pro-states’ rights message.
b. sent a consistently anti-states’ rights message.
c. avoided addressing states’ rights and powers altogether.
d. sent a mixed message on states’ rights.
e. encouraged the nullification of national laws

Answer 30

d. sent a mixed message on states’ rights.