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Questions and Answers
What major legislation did President Obama advocate for to improve health insurance accessibility?
What major legislation did President Obama advocate for to improve health insurance accessibility?
The Supreme Court upheld the independent state legislature theory in 2023.
The Supreme Court upheld the independent state legislature theory in 2023.
False
What action did Georgia take in 2021 regarding voting regulations?
What action did Georgia take in 2021 regarding voting regulations?
Georgia passed a law making voter ID requirements stricter and limited options to vote outside of Election Day.
In 2013, the Supreme Court struck down a key provision of the _______.
In 2013, the Supreme Court struck down a key provision of the _______.
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Match the following cases or laws with their descriptions:
Match the following cases or laws with their descriptions:
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What is an advantage of federalism related to policy goals?
What is an advantage of federalism related to policy goals?
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Most political careers in the U.S. begin at the national level.
Most political careers in the U.S. begin at the national level.
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How many total elected offices are there at the federal, state, and local levels in the U.S.?
How many total elected offices are there at the federal, state, and local levels in the U.S.?
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Elected representatives in municipal and township governments account for a little more than half of all elected __________ in the United States.
Elected representatives in municipal and township governments account for a little more than half of all elected __________ in the United States.
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Match the following government bodies with their respective number of elected officials:
Match the following government bodies with their respective number of elected officials:
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Which of the following is NOT a benefit of federalism, as discussed in the text?
Which of the following is NOT a benefit of federalism, as discussed in the text?
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The text argues that states cannot experiment with new policies without risking national consequences.
The text argues that states cannot experiment with new policies without risking national consequences.
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What does the text refer to as a 'laboratory' in the context of policy innovation?
What does the text refer to as a 'laboratory' in the context of policy innovation?
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The text cites ______ as an example of a state that has led the way in establishing environmental standards.
The text cites ______ as an example of a state that has led the way in establishing environmental standards.
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Match the following concepts with their descriptions:
Match the following concepts with their descriptions:
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Which of these examples is NOT mentioned in the text as an area where states have served as models for other states?
Which of these examples is NOT mentioned in the text as an area where states have served as models for other states?
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The text suggests that federalism has been successful in eliminating all instances of conflict between state and national governments.
The text suggests that federalism has been successful in eliminating all instances of conflict between state and national governments.
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How did state policies influence the development of national policies?
How did state policies influence the development of national policies?
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Which level of government has the most elected officials?
Which level of government has the most elected officials?
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In 2018, more U.S. adults trusted Congress than their local governments.
In 2018, more U.S. adults trusted Congress than their local governments.
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What is the total number of elected bodies and elected officials at all levels of government combined?
What is the total number of elected bodies and elected officials at all levels of government combined?
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The number of municipal governments in the U.S. is __________.
The number of municipal governments in the U.S. is __________.
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What is a drawback of federalism?
What is a drawback of federalism?
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Which state had the highest median household income in 2017?
Which state had the highest median household income in 2017?
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Match the type of government with the number of elected officials:
Match the type of government with the number of elected officials:
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There are 1,036 statewide offices in the U.S.
There are 1,036 statewide offices in the U.S.
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Race-to-the-bottom dynamics refer to states raising taxes to attract businesses.
Race-to-the-bottom dynamics refer to states raising taxes to attract businesses.
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What percentage of U.S. adults trusted their state governments in 2018?
What percentage of U.S. adults trusted their state governments in 2018?
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What was the median household income in West Virginia in 2017?
What was the median household income in West Virginia in 2017?
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In 2016, New York spent _____ per student for elementary and secondary education.
In 2016, New York spent _____ per student for elementary and secondary education.
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Match the following states with their education spending per student:
Match the following states with their education spending per student:
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How do proponents of social justice view federalism in relation to economic disparities?
How do proponents of social justice view federalism in relation to economic disparities?
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As of March 2021, most states have opted to expand Medicaid as per the Affordable Care Act.
As of March 2021, most states have opted to expand Medicaid as per the Affordable Care Act.
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What major historical event led to federal responses being blocked by the Supreme Court during President Roosevelt's administration?
What major historical event led to federal responses being blocked by the Supreme Court during President Roosevelt's administration?
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Study Notes
Learning Objectives
- Discuss advantages of federalism
- Explain disadvantages of federalism
Benefits of Federalism
- Promotes policy innovation: States can experiment with new policies, like those in child labor laws and women's suffrage, without affecting the entire nation. States can act as "laboratories" for ideas, allowing successful innovations to potentially spread.
- Facilitates political participation: Provides more avenues for citizens to participate in policy-making at the state and local levels leading to diverse policy outcomes.
- Accommodates diverse opinions: The system allows for different viewpoints and opinions in states, avoiding a one-size-fits-all national approach.
- Example of Innovation: California's environmental policies have served as a model for other states. Health insurance exchanges in Connecticut, Kentucky, Rhode Island, and Washington have also influenced others.
Disadvantages of Federalism
- Economic disparities: Significant differences in income and funding between states affects citizens' well-being and access to services like education. States compete with each other to attract business by lowering regulations and taxes, potentially impacting worker safety and pay.
- Race-to-the-bottom dynamics: States often compete with each other to offer lower taxes and regulations to attract businesses. This can lead to a decline in overall standards for labor, environmental protection, etc.
- Difficulty in addressing national issues: A lack of consistent policies across states can hinder the effective solutions to national problems. The system can make it challenging for the federal government to pass comprehensive laws, such as those regarding voting rights.
- Political gridlock: The complex system of checks and balances can prevent national responses to significant problems. The system can lead to political gridlock, hindering comprehensive national policy solutions.
- Example: The Supreme Court's decision in 2013 to nullify a part of the Voting Rights Act allowed states to make changes to voting laws. California and other states previously faced federal oversight in regards to voting regulations.
Federalism and Political Office
- Many elected offices exist at the federal, state, and local levels.
- Subnational level (state and local) offices are more accessible for individuals pursuing political careers.
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Description
This quiz discusses the pros and cons of federalism, highlighting how it promotes policy innovation and increases political participation while also addressing economic disparities and potential inefficiencies. Test your knowledge on how diverse opinions are accommodated within this system and learn about key examples that illustrate these concepts.
