American Government Midterm Qs

Questions and Answers

In a federal system, a majority of governmental responsibilities are?

shared by both state and federal authorities.

Nations that adopt a federal arrangement tend to have?

diverse ethnic or language groups.

Which of the following is the best example of a unitary system of government?

The federal government sets education policies for all schools. (correct)

Local governments create their own education standards.

The federal government allows states to choose education policies.

States have independent education policies.

The federal system can be best defined as?

a system of government in which power is divided between a national government and lower levels of government. Signup and view all the answers

The specific powers granted to the national government in Article I, Section 8, of the Constitution are called the?

expressed powers. Signup and view all the answers

The source of an implied power under the Constitution is the ______ clause.

necessary and proper Signup and view all the answers

What constitutional clause affirms that national laws and treaties are the supreme law of the land?

the supremacy clause. Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of the Tenth Amendment?

to limit the powers of the central government by establishing reserved powers for states and individuals. Signup and view all the answers

Chartering a bank is a ______ power, because both federal and state governments have the authority to do it.

concurrent Signup and view all the answers

The full faith and credit clause of the Constitution requires states to?

normally honor each other's public acts and legal decisions. Signup and view all the answers

When both state and national governments possess a certain level of authority, it is called?

a concurrent power. Signup and view all the answers

Which is the best example of a concurrent power under the federal constitution?

the power to regulate commercial activity. Signup and view all the answers

Which clauses of the Constitution involve the relationships among various states?

the full faith and credit clause and the privileges and immunities clause. Signup and view all the answers

If a state grants a city the ability to govern its own local affairs, this delegation of power is known as?

home rule. Signup and view all the answers

Which statement best describes the discussion of local government found in the Constitution?

Local government has no status in the Constitution. Signup and view all the answers

The privileges and immunities clause of Article IV is also referred to as the?

comity clause. Signup and view all the answers

When was the era of dual federalism?

from the ratification of the Constitution until the New Deal. Signup and view all the answers

Which statement best describes American federalism since the 1930s?

Although the federal government has grown significantly more powerful since the 1930s, some power has been returned to states in recent years. Signup and view all the answers

During the era of dual federalism, what was the primary goal of the federal government's domestic policies?

to assist the development of commercial activity within and between the states. Signup and view all the answers

What was one effect of dual federalism during the early Republic?

The national government was spared the task of making difficult policy decisions, such as the regulation of slavery, because the states did it themselves. Signup and view all the answers

Which level of government writes the majority of criminal laws?

the state governments. Signup and view all the answers

It has contributed to the longevity of the U.S. government by allowing many divisive policy decisions throughout American history to be made by states.

True Signup and view all the answers

Gibbons v. Ogden (1824) was important because?

it established the supremacy of the national government in all matters affecting interstate commerce. Signup and view all the answers

Which clause of the Constitution has been critical in allowing the growth of national power?

the commerce clause. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following economic policies was the national government allowed to implement during the nineteenth century?

establishing a series of national banks. Signup and view all the answers

What was the overall importance of the Supreme Court case McCulloch v. Maryland?

The Court interpreted the delegated powers of Congress broadly, creating the potential for increased national powers. Signup and view all the answers

The power of Congress to regulate commerce with foreign nations, among the several states, and with Indian tribes is found in ______ of the Constitution.

Article I. Signup and view all the answers

Who wrote the Supreme Court opinions in both McCulloch v. Maryland and Gibbons v. Ogden?

John Marshall. Signup and view all the answers

During most of the nineteenth century, Congress used its powers to?

facilitate commerce. Signup and view all the answers

The constitutional idea of states' rights was strongest during which historical period?

the years immediately preceding the Civil War. Signup and view all the answers

Which event was most influential in the rise of a more active national government?

the Great Depression. Signup and view all the answers

Those seeking to restrain the powers of the national government look to what part of the Constitution?

the Tenth Amendment. Signup and view all the answers

Which constitutional amendment has been used to restrict the scope of authority by the federal government over the states?

Tenth. Signup and view all the answers

In ______, the Supreme Court reinterpreted the commerce clause, changing it from a check on national power to a source of national power.

1937 Signup and view all the answers

When the national government appropriates money to the states but simultaneously demands the authority to dictate its distribution, this money is identified as?

a grant-in-aid. Signup and view all the answers

Which president presided over the New Deal?

Franklin Roosevelt. Signup and view all the answers

What was the 'Southern Manifesto'?

the refusal by southern congressmen in 1956 to obey Supreme Court decisions outlawing racial segregation. Signup and view all the answers

Why was the Supreme Court case United States v. Lopez important?

It was the first time since the New Deal that the Supreme Court limited the power of Congress outlined under the commerce clause. Signup and view all the answers

Which statement best describes the Supreme Court's trend in interpreting federalism since the mid-1990s?

The Court has limited the power of the national government over the state governments. Signup and view all the answers

The term marble cake federalism refers to what development?

intergovernmental cooperation blurring the lines between different layers of government. Signup and view all the answers

When the national government funds a project that is actually implemented by the states, it is an example of?

cooperative federalism. Signup and view all the answers

The principle of ______ grants the federal government the power to override any state or local law in one particular area of policy.

preemption. Signup and view all the answers

If the federal government compels state governments to obey costly regulations but does not reimburse those costs, it is called a(n)?

unfunded mandate. Signup and view all the answers

The form of federal assistance called ______ provides money to state governments with no strings attached.

general revenue sharing. Signup and view all the answers

Block grants are designed to?

give the states considerable say in how the money should be spent. Signup and view all the answers

______ describes the strategy of delegating a policy program to a lower level of government.

Devolution. Signup and view all the answers

The 5 Features of Public Opinions are?

<ol> <li>Intensity 2) Concentration 3) Stability 4) Distribution 5) Salience</li> </ol> Signup and view all the answers

The written language of the U.S. Constitution can only be altered by?

a formal amendment process as stated within the document. Signup and view all the answers

Who was an early advocate of public education, defending the cost of such a system on the basis that it would instill the value of democracy?

Thomas Jefferson. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a basis of legitimacy, according to Max Weber?

Force Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following BEST defines democracy?

Power is shared by all citizens. Signup and view all the answers

Government and politics are not the same because government refers to?

the institutions and processes by which rules are made and enforced for all. Signup and view all the answers

Daniel Shays was a(an)?

farmer and Revolutionary War veteran. Signup and view all the answers

The most recent amendment dealt with?

salary increases for members of Congress. Signup and view all the answers

A New England town meeting is a form of?

direct democracy. Signup and view all the answers

With the passage of the Sugar Act, Parliament ignored a fundamental freedom extended to English citizens and to colonists until that point. What fundamental right was ignored?

Taxes could only be imposed on citizens by elected representatives. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following devices used to restrain the power of government is NOT expressly stated in the Constitution?

judicial review. Signup and view all the answers

Which delegated power did Congress use as the basis for outlawing racial discrimination in hotels, motels, and restaurants?

the power to regulate interstate commerce. Signup and view all the answers

In cases of domestic violence, such as a riot within a state, the national government has the right to intervene?

even if there is no request for help from any state authority. Signup and view all the answers

A businessman from New York is mugged in Florida. He must be afforded the same police services as a Florida resident because of the?

privileges and immunities clause. Signup and view all the answers

A federal system of government gives the?

central government exclusive powers in the area of national security. Signup and view all the answers

Although almost all Americans support the basic goals of democracy, there is less agreement when it comes to the application of?

democratic procedures. Signup and view all the answers

Which one of the following is true of the influence of place of residence on political opinion?

Since the 1950s the Republican party has become the majority or competitive in all southern states. Signup and view all the answers

Which one of the following is true with respect to cell phones and polling?

The first pollster did not contact people on cell phones until January 2008. Signup and view all the answers

The main principles in the national supremacy clause of the Constitution (Article VI) were originally proposed by the?

New Jersey Plan. Signup and view all the answers

While colonists agreed that Parliament could make some laws for them, they claimed that Parliament did not have the?

power to tax without citizens' consent. Signup and view all the answers

Benjamin Franklin proposed the Albany Plan in an effort to?

find a way for colonies to cooperate with their British rulers. Signup and view all the answers

The Antifederalist arguments are important because they?

articulate the inherent dangers of a centralized government. Signup and view all the answers

A typical exit poll collects information from roughly ___________ or more voters throughout the day.

15,000 Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements is true (choose one):

There are many different style manuals from which to choose, depending on the discipline or class. Signup and view all the answers

The federal courts can interpret the meaning of laws and of the Constitution, but they are limited by the broad authority of Congress to shape the structure of the federal judicial system and to define the types of cases courts can hear. This illustrates what constitutional devices?

checks and balances. Signup and view all the answers

What was the primary purpose of the First Continental Congress?

to coordinate a joint response to the actions of the British. Signup and view all the answers

The Supreme Court's future decisions in the area of federalism are likely to depend mostly upon?

the kinds of individuals who are appointed to the Court. Signup and view all the answers

Under the Articles of Confederation, power was?

distributed among largely independent states. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Federalism and Power Distribution

Federal systems share governmental responsibilities between state and federal authorities.
Nations with federal arrangements often possess diverse ethnic or language groups.
A unitary system of government exemplifies centralized power, like when the federal government sets education policies.
Federalism divides power between a national government and lower levels, notably state governments.

Constitutional Powers

The Constitution's Article I, Section 8 outlines expressed powers granted to the national government.
Implied powers are derived from the necessary and proper clause of the Constitution.
The supremacy clause asserts that national laws and treaties are the supreme law of the land.
The Tenth Amendment limits central government powers by reserving rights for states and individuals.

Types of Powers

Concurrent powers, like chartering banks, are shared between state and federal governments.
The full faith and credit clause mandates that states respect each other's public acts and decisions.
The privileges and immunities clause ensures citizens enjoy the same rights across states.
Home rule allows states to delegate self-governance to local authorities.

Historical Context of Federalism

Dual federalism, prevalent until the New Deal, saw limited federal intervention in state affairs.
From the 1930s onwards, the federal government gained power, but states were eventually granted some authority back.
Significant national policies during dual federalism aimed to promote commercial activity among states.
The Civil War era marked a peak in states’ rights sentiment, but the Great Depression catalyzed a more active national government.

Supreme Court Cases and Their Impact

Gibbons v. Ogden (1824) affirmed national supremacy in interstate commerce.
The commerce clause has played a vital role in expanding national power.
McCulloch v. Maryland reinforced broad interpretations of congressional powers, enhancing federal authority.
United States v. Lopez (1995) marked a limit on Congress's power under the commerce clause.

Federal-State Relationships

Cooperative federalism promotes collaboration between national and state governments.
Unfunded mandates occur when the federal government imposes regulations without reimbursing the states for compliance costs.
General revenue sharing provides states with funding without specific conditions attached.
Block grants allow states significant discretion in spending federal funds.

Political Dynamics

Public opinion features intensity, concentration, stability, distribution, and salience.
Thomas Jefferson advocated for public education as a means to instill democratic values.
Daniel Shays was a Revolutionary War veteran who played a notable role in early American history.

Democracy and Legitimacy

Democracy involves power-sharing among all citizens; governance refers to institutions that enforce rules.
Max Weber identified three bases of legitimacy: traditional, charismatic, and legal-rational, excluding force.

Amendments and Legislative Decisions

The most recent constitutional amendment relates to Congressional salary adjustments.
Judicial review, although significant for government restraint, is not explicitly outlined in the Constitution.
The First Continental Congress aimed to unify colonial response to British actions.

Polling and Political Trends

Exit polls typically gather data from about 15,000 voters to gauge election outcomes.
The influence of geographic residence has shaped political affiliations, notably in the South.

Checks and Balances

The judicial system's structure allows federal courts to interpret laws within the constraints set by Congress.
The Articles of Confederation led to a decentralized power structure among states.

Key Historical Developments

The Albany Plan proposed by Benjamin Franklin aimed for colonial cooperation with British rulers.
The Antifederalist arguments warned against centralized government dangers, highlighting valid concerns in early governance.

Studying That Suits You

Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.

Description

Prepare for your American Government midterm with these flashcards. Each card covers key concepts in the federal system, including the distribution of responsibilities and examples of government types. Test your knowledge and ensure you're ready for the exam!