Federalism, State and Local Government Test Flashcards
T/F: The Constitution does not say anything about local governments
True
T/F: The Constitution gives a specific list of powers to the federal government
True
There are about _____ counties in the United States
3,000
State or Local Ordinance: “A person between 16 and 18 must have a parent’s permission in order to get married”
State
What term is not applied to the basic unit into which all states are divided?
special district
What are terms for the basic unit into which all states are divided?
borough, county, parish
Six powers of local governments
naming streets, determining methods for selecting municipal judges, setting truancy regulations, regulating taxation, school speed limits, setting juvenile curfews
State law or local ordinance: “Between sunset and sunrise, vehicles on the road must have headlights on”
State
Six State Powers
Summoning citizens for jury duty, selecting automobiles for highway patrol, ratifying amendments to the fed Constitution, setting age for alcohol purchase, hunting and fishing regulation
T/F: The Constitution lets Congress do what is necessary and proper for carrying out its powers
True
State or Local: “No one living in the area may bree livestock of any kind”
Local
Four problems with Federalism
maintaining distinctions between levels of government, give and take of federal aid, increasing national debt, competition among states for funds
Delegated powers are given to what level of government?
National
T/F: The Constitution lists specific things that the state CAN’T do
True
T/F: Project grants are the restrictive type of grant issued by the federal government
False
What is the source of local government?
State government
T/F: Dillon’s Rule says that a county has its own natural power
False
Dual federalism
System in which the national and state levels are sovereign within their own spheres
What is the source of implied powers?
Enumerated powers
State or Local: “Temporary structures like circus tents may not be put up without approval”
Local
The New Deal is associated with FDR
True
Federalism
Form of government based on limiting government by distributing/dividing power among several government levels and organizations
T/F: Public education today is as much a local issue as it is state and national
True
T/F: Most of the county’s money comes from the state
False
Six concurrent powers
Protect health/safety, collect taxes, build roads, borrow money, establish courts, make/enforce laws
Since 1913, ______ has been a continuous source of money for the national government
Income tax
What tax makes up 30% (largest) of state tax revenue across all fifty states?
Property taxes
T/F: An association of independent states is called a unitary form of government
False
The ________ amendment established federal income tax
16th
T/F: California has the most counties
False
T/F: The unitary form of government does not divide power between the central government and lower governments
True
Six federal government powers
Appoint diplomats, regulate taxation, summon citizens for jury duty, collect income tax, maintain postal service, set automobile safety standards
T/F: The federal government can influence states by attaching rules to federal money
True
State or Local: “All sidewalks, buildings, fences, signs, and other surfaces must be kept free from graffiti”
Local
The lowest divisions of a political organization are called
Precincts
T/F: Counties are called counties in every state
False
T/F: States do not have their own constitutions or laws
False
T/F: Local governments have their own power to make decisions about anything
False
T/F: Counties receive money from the state
True
T/F: Our county system came from Germany
False
With which level of government are the reserved powers usually associated?
States
T/F: Traditionally, local units of government have served primarily to implement state laws
True
T/F: Laws at a lower level of government are always superior to laws at a higher level
False
State
Political unit that has the authority to govern itself
Delegated
Assigned or given
Reserved
set aside for
County seat
the town or city in each county that serves as the home for county government
Property taxes
money people or businesses pay on land and buildings the own inside the county
Sales tax
money made from items sold within the county
Fees
money made from counties charging for services they provide
Interest groups
Private groups that work to support special causes by trying to get laws passed that will help those causes
State constitution
describes the powers of a state’s 3 branches
Executive order
Acts like a law but is issued by the governor without legislature
Title given to the state’s chief officer of the executive branch
Governor
Four Reserved Powers
Conduct elections, make rules about business inside the state, charter banks and corporations, provide police and emergency services
Five Expressed+Implied Powers
Print money, declare war, establish a post office, spend money on general warfare, decide what units of measurement we use
T/F: Powers that states and the federal government share are called concurrent powers
True
Bicameral
A legislature that is composed of two houses
Legislature
Group of people that creates laws (Congress)
Interest groups
Private groups that support causes through legislation
Conference committee
A committee made up of members from both houses
Commission
A group of people in charge of a state
Mandate
Something a country has been ordered to do
Federal
Type of government where states and the central government share power
Confederal
Type of government where the central government gets its power from the states
T/F: All county governments include a county administrator
False
T/F: Monies paid to the federal government by the states are returned in equal proportion to the states
False
T/F: The federal government can require a county to provide a service
True
T/F: The Supremacy Clause says state laws are superior to federal laws
False
T/F: The Constitution gives a specific list of powers to the states
False
T/F: Congress determines how many counties each state may have
False
Prosecutor
Makes sure criminals are charged for their crimes
Elections supervisor
Makes sure the polling places and ballots work properly work when it’s time to vote
Recorder/clerk
Keeps track of property deeds, marriage certificates, and other records
Engineer
Manages public buildings and structures
Sheriff/chief of police
Keeps people safe by enforcing laws
School superintendent
In charge of the local public education system
Mayor/City manager
Leads the city government
Assessor
Estimates the value of a property so it can be taxed
Council member/supervisor
Helps to make decisions that affect the entire city or county
Medical examiner
Investigates unnatural deaths and performs autopsies
T/F: Eligibility requirements for voting are the same for all states
False
T/F: Differences in tax rates often lead to discord between states as consumers from one state travel to another to shop
True
State or Local: “Every child between the ages 6 and 16 must attend school or be home schooled”
State
State or Local: “It is unlawful to take, injure, or harass any bird upon its nest, except in agriculture”
State
T/F: A county is smaller than a state
True
T/F: County governments have only “executive branch” powers
False
T/F: Before the passage of the 17th Amendment in 1865, identifying with one’s state was often more important than national identity
True
