Federal vs State Power Quiz

Question 1: Federal Power vs. State Power

• Enhance Federal Power: Necessary & Proper Clause, Commerce Clause, Supremacy Clause, Fifth Amendment
• Enhance State Power: Fourteenth Amendment, Tenth Amendment, Seventeenth Amendment, Article V of the Constitution

Question 2: Supremacy & Full Faith & Credit Clauses

• Supremacy Clause: Allows equal degrees of state and national authority on policy, Allows the Supreme Court to strike down state actions that conflict with national policies.
• Full Faith & Credit Clause: Maintains the relationship between state and national governments, Allows the Supreme Court to strike down state actions that other states do not agree with, Holds the states accountable to each other and creates a stronger bond throughout the nation

Question 3: Defense of Marriage Act Ruling

• The Defense of Marriage Act was ruled unconstitutional because it granted implied powers to the national government that were not related to expressed powers, and it allowed state governments to disregard a potentially applicable constitutional requirement.

Question 4: Madison's Understanding of "Federal" & "National"

• Madison viewed "Federal" as a system where states work together with the federal government to solve national issues, and states consider impact on the whole nation,
• Madison viewed "National" as a system where states operate as individual entities, considering their own self-interests.

Question 5: Strictly Federal Act

• A decision in Congress regarding a military response to foreign aggression.
• Debate and vote by the House of Representatives on policy.
• The amendment process for the Constitution.
• Debate and vote in the Senate on policy.

Question 6: Federal Funds for Specific Purposes

• Project grants
• Categorical-formula grants
• Revenue sharing grants
• Block grants

Question 7: Constitutional Provision for State Court Enforcement

• Full faith and credit clause.

Question 8: Categorical, Regulatory Preemption, Block Grants

• The states most likely prefer block grants.

Question 9: Concurrent Powers Effect

• Concurrent powers allow states and the national government to exercise influence in the same areas of public policy.
• Concurrent powers foster cooperation between the two levels of government by requiring them to work together
• Concurrent powers do not create completely separate spheres of influence.
• Concurrent powers reinforce the national government's power and supremacy.

Question 10: Supreme Court Argument for Outlawing Segregation

• The Court argued that segregation affected interstate commerce, giving Congress the authority to outlaw it.

Question 11: Cooperative Federalism Example

• A public policy program jointly determined, administered, and funded by both the national government and a state government.

Question 12: Constitutional Basis for Capital Punishment Variation

• The constitutional principle of dual federalism best explains why there are variations among states in the use of capital punishment.

Question 13: Dual Federalism

• Views the Constitution as giving limited powers—primarily foreign policy and national defense—to the national government, leaving the rest to states.
• Views the national government, states, and local governments as competing with each other.
• Presumes that the power of the federal government is limited.
• Conceived of federalism as a mixed set of responsibilities where all levels of government are engaged.

Question 14: Federalism Encourages Experimentation

• National politicians and parties don't have to solve every issue at once, these issues are debated amongst states.
• If states adopt programs that fail, the negative impact is limited, whereas if programs succeed, they can be adopted by other states and the national government.
• Federalism provides a training ground for state and local politicians.

Question 15: Precluding Enforcement of Conflicting Law

• Federal mandate

Question 16: Broad Grants to States

• Block grants

Question 17: National Democrats' Preference on Federal Grants

• Less strings, less federal supervision, and delegation of spending discretion to the states

Question 18: Importance of Federal Grants

• To establish minimum national standards for things like highways and clean air

Question 19: Federal Grant Purposes

• To establish minimum national standards for government responsibilities
• To be able to control state and local political systems

Question 20: Conservative Justices View of Federalism

• Limited national government favoring the broad reserved powers of the states,
• A stronger but well defined national government directing most state actions.

Question 21: Constitutional Basis for Implied Powers

• The Necessary and Proper Clause

Question 22: State Court Enforcement of Civil Judgments

• Full faith and credit clause

Question 23: Centrists' Preference in Federalism

• Cooperation between all levels of government.

Question 24: Federal Grant Purposes (Except)

• To be able to control state and local political systems

Question 25: No Child Left Behind and ADA

• Unfunded mandates

Question 26: National Issues

• Not applicable, as this is not a question

Question 27: Flexibility in State/Nation Relationship

• The relationship between federal and state governments is flexible enough to permit new forms of interaction.
• Congress can use the commerce clause to address problems in public schools.
• National policymaking is constrained by the sharing of power between the branches of government.

Question 28: Increasing School Accountability

• Not applicable, as this is not a question

Question 29: Liberal Response to Strained Local Resources

• An increase in federal spending on public education and programs for lower-income communities

Question 30: Comparison of McCulloch v. Maryland & U.S. v. Lopez

• McCulloch v. Maryland: The Court upheld federal law based on the use of the Elastic Clause.
• U.S. v. Lopez: The Court struck down federal law based on use of the Elastic Clause.

Test your knowledge on the balance of power between federal and state governments. This quiz covers key clauses and amendments that influence authority in the United States. Explore landmark rulings and understand the implications of federal and state dynamics.