POLS 155 - American Political Institutions » Fall 2021 » Chapter 2
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Question #1
How does addressing a public health crisis BEST relate to the concept of federalism?
A.
In a federal system, power shifts to the states to resolve their own public health problems.
B.
In a federal system, both states and the national government have powers that can affect the issues brought on by a public health crisis.
C.
In a federal system, neither the states nor the national government has the power to address public health issues.
D.
In a federal system, the national government is the only government entity with the power to address matters of public health.
Question #2
Which of the following statements about federalism is correct?
A.
Ensuring federalism was one of the easier tasks undertaken by the Framers of the Constitution.
B.
The Framers generally followed the model of federalism outlined in the Articles of Confederation.
C.
Federalism primarily entails the growth of the federal government.
D.
Federalism was a subject of intense debate during the drafting of the Constitution.
Question #3
Madison’s concept of “double security” was PRIMARILY intended to check which of the following?
A.
the executive branch
B.
the abuse of political power
C.
the growth of state power
D.
the rising Confederacy
Question #4
What is federalism?
A.
a policy designed to enhance the power of the federal government
B.
the division of power between the federal and state governments
C.
the division of power between civilian and military leadership
D.
the division of power between the three branches of government
Question #5
Under the Articles of Confederation, states generally felt which of the following with regard to the federal government?
A.
States felt that the federal government had far too much power over their affairs.
B.
States enjoyed their sovereignty from the federal government.
C.
States wanted to abolish the federal government completely.
D.
Southern states opposed the federal government while Northern states supported it.
Question #6
Which of the following characterizes the evolution of the balance of power between state, local, and national governments?
A.
The federal government has progressively assumed greater responsibility for domestic and economic issues.
B.
The debate surrounding the balance of power has almost completely disappeared.
C.
Local governments have assumed sole responsibility for domestic issues.
D.
State governments share virtually none of the same powers as the federal government.
Question #7
Which governmental institution is PRIMARILY credited with the most recent shift in the balance of power between the state and federal governments?
A.
the Senate
B.
the Supreme Court
C.
the executive branch
D.
the House of Representatives
Question #8
How can the most recent version of federalism be characterized?
A.
Some power has shifted back to the states.
B.
The federal government dominates the states more than ever before.
C.
There has been no change in federalism since the mid-20th century.
D.
The states are now more powerful than the federal government.
Question #9
The Congress shall have Power ... ... To make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into Execution the foregoing Powers, and all other Powers vested by this Constitution in the Government of the United States, or in any Department or Officer thereof. Which of the following explanations BEST describes the meaning of the above clause from Article I, section 8, of the Constitution?
A.
It allows Congress to establish banks or other financial institutions as long as they are deemed “necessary and proper” for maintaining the stability of the nation’s economy.
B.
It enhances the power of the states by allowing them to do whatever is “necessary and proper” to prevent Congress from overstepping its constitutional authority.
C.
It expands Congress’s power by allowing Congress to pass any laws that are “necessary and proper” for it to carry out its enumerated powers under the Constitution.
D.
It limits Congress’s power by allowing Congress to pass only those laws that are “necessary and proper” for it to uphold and defend the principles in the Constitution.
Question #10
This Constitution, and the Laws of the United States which shall be made in Pursuance thereof; and all Treaties made, or which shall be made, under the Authority of the United States, shall be the supreme Law of the Land; and the Judges in every State shall be bound thereby, any Thing in the Constitution or Laws of any State to the Contrary notwithstanding. Based on your reading of the Supremacy Clause of Article VI, which of the following actions would be considered unconstitutional?
A.
a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulation that overrules a state court judgment involving food-safety labels
B.
the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which allowed the federal government to monitor state-run elections
C.
a state court ruling that conflicts with the Supreme Court ruling on same-sex marriage
D.
an amendment to a state constitution that establishes the right to religious freedom at the state level
Question #11
Why did the federal government first decide to charter national banks?
A.
State government officials requested that the federal government charter a national bank to lend states money.
B.
State-owned banks were charging the federal government too much interest on loans to pay debts from the War of 1812.
C.
One of Congress’s enumerated powers under the Constitution is the authority to charter national banks.
D.
State-owned banks had declared bankruptcy as a result of debt accumulated during the War of 1812.
Question #12
Why did Maryland decide to tax the national bank?
A.
The federal government had previously taxed state banks excessively.
B.
The United States started borrowing almost exclusively from the national bank instead of state banks.
C.
Maryland had a standing law that all banks would be taxed equally.
D.
Anti-Federalists in the Maryland legislature wanted to test the limits of national power.
Question #13
When McCulloch v. Maryland was heard before the Supreme Court, John Marshall was the chief justice. Given that he was a Federalist, how would you expect him to rule in this case?
A.
in favor of state banks
B.
in favor of Maryland
C.
in favor of McCulloch
D.
in favor of Philadelphia
Question #14
The first question before the Court was whether Congress could even charter a bank at all. Why was this an issue?
A.
Chartering banks was exclusively the province of state governments, according to the Constitution.
B.
Chartering banks would lead to government corruption by allowing members of Congress undue influence over financial markets.
C.
Chartering a bank was not among Congress’s implied powers.
D.
Chartering a bank was not among Congress’s enumerated powers.
Question #15
Why did Chief Justice John Marshall hold that the United States did have the power to charter a national bank?
A.
The Necessary and Proper Clause, in combination with the enumerated power of Congress to regulate commerce and coin money, gives Congress the implied power to charter a national bank.
B.
The power to charter a bank is an enumerated power of Congress.
C.
The power to charter a bank is an implied power of the president.
D.
The Supremacy Clause, in combination with the enumerated power of Congress to borrow money on the credit of the United States, gives Congress the implied power to establish banks in order to pay off war debts.
Question #16
What was the second question before the Court?
A.
Can a bank be owned by members of Congress?
B.
Can a state tax a federal institution?
C.
Can a federal institution tax a state government?
D.
Can the federal government tax nonprofit organizations?
Question #17
What did Marshall mean in saying that “the power to tax is the power to destroy”?
A.
High taxes are unconstitutional because they violate private-property rights.
B.
A federal income tax is an unconstitutional exercise of congressional power.
C.
Taxes tend to hurt the poor more than they hurt businesses or the wealthy.
D.
A sufficiently high tax could ensure that no institution could survive.
Question #18
Why was Maryland’s tax on the national bank ultimately found to be unconstitutional?
A.
Taxes on all government-owned banks are unconstitutional.
B.
The tax would have bankrupted the national government.
C.
State governments do not have power over the national government.
D.
Maryland’s tax was not found to be unconstitutional.
Question #19
Which of the following terms captures what the case was really about?
A.
civil rights
B.
judicial review Incorrect
C.
executive authority
D.
federalism
Question #20
Washington has legalized the production, distribution, and use of marijuana within the state. With which of the following regulations does this policy conflict?
A.
health recommendations issued by the American Medical Association
B.
local laws that make marijuana illegal
C.
state regulations that prohibit marijuana in the workplace
D.
federal laws that make marijuana illegal
Question #21
Why are pot growers on Vashon Island concerned about transporting their product across Puget Sound?
A.
The waterways are patrolled by anti-drug vigilantes.
B.
The waterways are regulated by the Washington State Police.
C.
The waterways are notorious areas of piracy and lawlessness.
D.
The waterways are regulated by federal agencies.
Question #22
According to the decision in McCulloch v. Maryland, which of the following laws would have the final say in this issue?
A.
international drug-trafficking laws
B.
Seattle municipal laws regulating transportation
C.
Washington state laws regulating controlled substances
D.
U.S. laws regulating controlled substances
Question #23
What other policy areas might result in conflicts between state and national laws?
A.
international trade
B.
Commerce Clause
C.
grants-in-aid
D.
Net neutrality
Question #24
Which type of federalism is characterized by the national and state governments working independently of each other?
A.
dual
B.
marble cake
C.
cooperative
D.
coercive
Question #25
Which of the following characterizes the power of the national government during the age of dual federalism?
A.
relatively high in comparison to the states
B.
working together with the states
C.
pertaining mainly to commerce, defense, and international trade
D.
unlimited by the Supreme Court
Question #26
During the age of dual federalism, the Supreme Court limited the power of the national government through its interpretation of which portion of the Constitution?
A.
the Full Faith and Credit Clause
B.
the Necessary and Proper Clause
C.
the Supremacy Clause
D.
the Commerce Clause
Question #27
The federal government became more involved in state and local matters through which of the following measures?
A.
creating new state and local programs
B.
the use of grants-in-aid
C.
hiring bureaucrats to take over state and local governments
D.
creating federally funded public schools
Question #28
The issue that acted as a catalyst in the shift toward cooperative federalism was PRIMARILY of what nature?
A.
civil rights
B.
economic and financial
C.
a matter of national defense in the buildup to World War II
D.
expansion of executive power
Question #29
Incentives provided by grants-in-aid act as a substitute for which of the following? Choose the BEST answer.
A.
the Commerce Clause
B.
dual federalism
C.
states’ rights
D.
constitutional authority
Question #30
President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal legislation did which of the following?
A.
It resulted in a deepening of the Great Depression.
B.
It successfully installed extra judges on the Supreme Court.
C.
It lessened the power of the central government in relation to the power of the states.
D.
It ushered in an era during which the powers of the federal government were protected by the Supreme Court.
Question #31
What type of issues led to the shift from cooperative to coercive federalism? Choose the BEST answer.
A.
voting rights
B.
budgetary
C.
national defense
D.
social
Question #32
How did the national government ensure cooperation with its policies during the era of coercive federalism?
A.
by limiting the reach of the Commerce Clause
B.
through social programs aimed at increasing civil rights
C.
by threatening to remove funding from programs
D.
through federal grants-in-aid
Question #33
A federal policy that requires states to comply without receiving federal funds to cover the cost of the policy is an example of what?
A.
dual federalism
B.
a block grant
C.
an unfunded mandate
D.
cooperative federalism
Question #34
Proponents of new federalism support which of the following measures?
A.
maximizing the amount of unfunded mandates
B.
decreasing the federal deficit
C.
increasing the size of the federal government
D.
returning power to the states
Question #35
What is it called when the federal government delegates power to the states?
A.
devolution
B.
dual federalism
C.
unfunded mandates
D.
grants-in-aid
Question #36
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 contained which of the following provisions?
A.
It limited Medicaid coverage.
B.
It excluded children under 26 from their parents’ health insurance plans.
C.
It allowed insurance companies to discriminate against individuals with preexisting conditions.
D.
It mandated that all citizens have medical insurance.
Question #37
Why was the healthcare reform legislation challenged in court?
A.
Opponents of the law felt that the federal government had overstepped its authority.
B.
Opponents of the law felt that there was nothing wrong with the healthcare system in the United States.
C.
Opponents of the law felt that the reforms wouldn’t fix any of the problems with the healthcare system in the United States.
D.
Opponents of the law felt that the United States needed a nationwide single-payer healthcare system.
Question #38
A.
a steady increase in the power of the federal government
B.
distinct policy jurisdictions between the federal and state governments
C.
a steady increase in the power of state governments
D.
a commingling of national and state responsibilities
Question #39
Which of the following is an accurate statement regarding the nature of the modern federal system?
A.
The debate over the balance of power between the federal and state governments has largely been resolved.
B.
It is characterized by a power struggle that has overwhelmingly favored the states.
C.
The backlash from the states in response to growing national power has been greatly reduced.
D.
It is characterized by a struggle to balance power between the federal and state governments.
Question #40
How did the Civil War alter the relationship between the states and the national government?
A.
The philosophical debate between the states and national government over equal rights was sorted out.
B.
The states assumed greater responsibility over laws pertaining to civil liberties after the Civil War.
C.
The national government assumed more power over significant governmental decisions and public policy after the Civil War.
D.
The philosophical debate between the states and the national government over economic freedom was resolved.
Question #41
Which president was responsible for a shift toward the modern welfare state?
A.
Theodore Roosevelt
B.
Franklin Roosevelt
C.
Harry Truman
D.
Herbert Hoover
Question #42
Events such as the Civil War and the Great Depression have generally resulted in which of the following?
A.
fewer government agencies
B.
a shrinking of the executive branch
C.
increased state power relative to the federal government
D.
shifts in the balance of power toward the federal government
Question #43
What must happen before the national government will provide emergency relief to state and local governments?
A.
The national government must deem emergency relief politically necessary.
B.
Public opinion must demand that leaders in Washington intervene.
C.
State and local governments must request and approve emergency relief from the national government.
D.
State and local governments must have depleted all their own resources to provide emergency services themselves.
Question #44
The national government withholding highway funding from states until they comply with national laws represents an example of which of the following?
A.
dual federalism
B.
coercive federalism
C.
unconstitutionality
D.
state sovereignty
Question #45
According to his 1966 statement, President Johnson considered the establishment of which federal agency to be “an essential building block” for the future of the United States?
A.
the Department of Transportation
B.
the Federal Aviation Administration
C.
the Federal Communications Commission
D.
the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Question #46
Which of the following BEST explains the controversy over net neutrality during the Trump administration?
A.
The FCC used its power to regulate interstate commerce, as granted under the Commerce Clause, to effectively end the policy of net neutrality.
B.
The FCC sued states that allowed internet service providers to discriminate across websites and web services.
C.
Before the FCC ruling, state legislatures had passed their own legislation forbidding internet service providers from discriminating across web services.
D.
The Trump administration enforced a ruling that prohibited internet service providers from discriminating across websites and web services.
Question #47
Scientific and technological developments affect issues of federalism in which of the following ways?
A.
They create the potential for more government oversight and new regulations.
B.
They tend to create stricter boundaries between states, counties, and towns.
C.
They lead to the creation of fewer government agencies.
D.
They engender national disengagement from environmental protection efforts.
Question #48
Reagan’s vision of federalism differed from most other modern presidents’ visions in which of the following ways?
A.
He believed that the federal government should play a significant role in the regulation of industry and transportation.
B.
He believed that state power should be secondary to that of the federal government.
C.
He endorsed unfunded mandates.
D.
He believed that a federal system should limit the scope of government in order to protect civil liberties.
Question #49
Clinton’s 1998 executive order on federalism reflected ideas primarily attributed to which of the following?
A.
the Republican Party
B.
the anti-Federalists
C.
the Federalists
D.
the suffragists
Question #50
Why did President Clinton suspend Executive Order 13083?
A.
He received pressure from Congress.
B.
It was unconstitutional.
C.
He received pressure from state and local governments.
D.
He became a states’ rights advocate.
Question #51
Which of the following is considered a strength of a federal system?
A.
It limits oversight and accountability.
B.
It provides more opportunities for political participation.
C.
It hinders policy development.
D.
It depends on state compliance.
Question #52
Which of the following is considered a weakness of a federal system?
A.
It hinders policy development and leads to budgetary inefficiency.
B.
It discourages separatism and secession.
C.
It promotes the division of labor within government.
D.
It maintains local forms of representative government.
Question #53
Which of the following represents a major problem with decentralization?
A.
Policy development is universalistic.
B.
It creates an inability to experiment with different policy solutions.
C.
Federal and state governments must share power.
D.
It results in highly inefficient policies.
Question #54
According to James Madison, a tyranny of the majority could be avoided in which of the following ways?
A.
by limiting the sphere of government
B.
by having fewer distinct groups in society
C.
by having a diversity of views
D.
by decreasing political participation
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