Question 1

What does the state power of eminent domain, which allows for the taking of properties in exchange for fair compensation, require the land to be used for?

Accepted Answer

A)   A public purpose
B)   Purposes defined by Congress, under the supremacy clause
C)   Purposes allowed under the Tenth Amendment
D)   Purposes that do not interfere with interstate commerceE) A) and D)
F) B) and D)

Question 2

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) , popularly referred to as Obamacare, increased the percentage of Americans covered by health insurance.A Supreme Court ruling, however, made optional the funding of coverage for many lower-income people.Why was this the case?

Accepted Answer

A)   The Court ruled, on federalism and states' rights grounds, that the national government could not compel states to expand Medicaid coverage, under the ACA.
B)   The Court ruled that states could not be required to offer subsidized health-care policies under their insurance exchanges, as required under the ACA.
C)   The Court ruled that increased use of categorical grants to states to fund the health care of lower-income populations posed a conflict with the Tenth Amendment.
D)   The Court ruled that the expansion of Medicaid in every state, as required under the ACA, represented an unfunded mandate.E) A) and B)
F) C) and D)

Question 3

Morton Grodzins described the shift from the use of federal grants as a means of supplementing states' traditional functions to a post-1960s era marked by intergovernmental cooperation as a move from "layer cake" to "marble cake" federalism because:

Accepted Answer

A)   the goals and rules of grants programs grew more elaborate and tangled over time.
B)   state and federal functions are still fairly distinct, but less so, and they now include chunks or marble-like sections of local activity and funding as well.
C)   state and federal functions were once more distinct, but federal power cut state power dramatically from the 1960s on, leaving its role akin to streaks in a marble cake.
D)   marble cakes tend to be more expensive to produce or buy than layer cakes, reflecting the greater expense of post-1960s federalism.E) A) and D)
F) A) and C)

Question 4

Within the system of separated powers, the framers provided for supremacy by the:

Accepted Answer

A)   judiciary.
B)   executive.
C)   presidency or the legislature, depending on the era.
D)   legislatureE) A) and B)
F) A) and C) D

Question 5

The Supreme Court, in a 2012 ruling, held that states could keep their citizens from buying insurance under the Affordable Care Act, popularly known as Obamacare.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False  False

Question 6

The condition in American government in which the presidency is controlled by one party while the opposing party controls one or both houses of Congress is known as:

Accepted Answer

A)   bicameralism.
B)   dual control.
C)   gridlock.
D)   divided government.E) B) and C)
F) A) and D) D

Question 7

Mechanisms through which each branch of government participates in and influences the activities of the other branches are referred to as:

Accepted Answer

A)   separation of powers.
B)   federalism.
C)   cooperative governance.
D)   checks and balances.E) B) and C)
F) A) and D)

Question 8

In a federal system, state governments retain sovereignty, which prevents the federal government from directly interfering in the fiscal matters of states, even given the amount of money states receive in federal aid.However, state governments can become directly involved in the fiscal matters of local governments.Why is this the case?

Accepted Answer

A)   The U.S.Constitution was amended to increase the power of states over local matters.
B)   The U.S.Constitution explicitly gives states the right to intervene in local affairs.
C)   Local governments are not recognized by the U.S.Constitution.
D)   Congress passed a law allowing the states to intervene in local affairs.E) A) and B)
F) None of the above

Question 9

The legal doctrine holding that states cannot be sued by private persons or groups claiming that the state violated a statute enacted by Congress is known as state:

Accepted Answer

A)   executive privilege.
B)   judicial supremacy.
C)   habeas corpus.
D)   sovereign immunity.E) All of the above
F) None of the above

Question 10

The power to regulate commerce is an example of a ___________ power with the American federal system.

Accepted Answer

A)   police
B)   reserved
C)   exclusive
D)   concurrentE) C) and D)
F) B) and C)

Question 11

In proposing the Tenth Amendment after the ratification of the Constitution, Congress sought to limit the power of the national government by:

Accepted Answer

A)   granting states, or the people, powers not delegated to the national government.
B)   forcing states to compete against each other.
C)   prohibiting Congress and the states from passing ex post facto laws.
D)   creating a grants-in-aid system that would force cooperating with state governments.E) C) and D)
F) A) and D)

Question 12

In 2015, the Supreme Court declared that under _______________, states were required to honor same-sex marriage licenses from other states

Accepted Answer

A)   a federal judicial interpretation of the Tenth Amendment
B)   the federal 1996 Defense of Marriage Act
C)   the full faith and credit clause of the U.S.Constitution
D)   the federal Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993E) A) and B)
F) C) and D)

Question 13

The Constitution's commerce clause gives the federal government power to:

Accepted Answer

A)   regulate only the specific parts of commerce not covered by individual states' constitutions.
B)   regulate international commerce only.
C)   regulate interstate commerce and trade with foreign nations.
D)   regulate interstate commerce only.E) A) and C)
F) A) and B)

Question 14

The framers intended for the judicial branch to be the preeminent branch, regulating and dictating the behavior of the other two branches.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 15

One of the largest nonfederal government organizations in the United States is the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.It oversees airports, bridges, tunnels, and train systems, and developed New York City's One World Trade Center.It has its own police force.Governors of each state appoint board members.If states are supposed to be independent, how does this organization exist?

Accepted Answer

A)   Port Authority is an illegal organization that is only allowed due to the economic power that New York wields.
B)   This government was allowed through an interstate compact, created with the consent of Congress, as the Constitution allows.
C)   The organization's founding came before ratification of the federal Constitution, which would allow it to bypass the Constitution.
D)   Presidents are allowed to grant waivers for cooperation through executive orders, bypassing Congress.E) B) and C)
F) C) and D)

Question 16

The power to levy taxes is an example of a(n)  _____________ power.

Accepted Answer

A)   police
B)   exclusive
C)   concurrent
D)   reservedE) A) and B)
F) None of the above

Question 17

Would Americans want each state to set its own air and water pollution control policies? Why or why not?

Accepted Answer

• Pro: Each state can choose the level o...

Question 18

Most states have amended their constitutions to allow their larger cities more control over their own affairs, or "home rule."

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 19

How has the national government used grants-in-aid financing to exercise influence over state and local governments?

Accepted Answer

Grants-in-aid induce state and local aut...

Question 20

Two or more states reach a legally binding agreement about how to solve a problem that crosses state lines through:

Accepted Answer

A)   a treaty.
B)   a compact.
C)   statutory bargain.
D)   a bill of attainder.E) A) and D)
F) A) and C)

Exam 3: Federalism and the Separation of Powers

What does the state power of eminent domain, which allows for the taking of properties in exchange for fair compensation, require the land to be used for?

Correct Answer
verified

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) , popularly referred to as Obamacare, increased the percentage of Americans covered by health insurance.A Supreme Court ruling, however, made optional the funding of coverage for many lower-income people.Why was this the case?

Correct Answer
verified

Morton Grodzins described the shift from the use of federal grants as a means of supplementing states' traditional functions to a post-1960s era marked by intergovernmental cooperation as a move from "layer cake" to "marble cake" federalism because:

Correct Answer
verified

Within the system of separated powers, the framers provided for supremacy by the:

Correct Answer
verified
D

The Supreme Court, in a 2012 ruling, held that states could keep their citizens from buying insurance under the Affordable Care Act, popularly known as Obamacare.

Correct Answer
verified
False

The condition in American government in which the presidency is controlled by one party while the opposing party controls one or both houses of Congress is known as:

Correct Answer
verified
D

Mechanisms through which each branch of government participates in and influences the activities of the other branches are referred to as:

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

The legal doctrine holding that states cannot be sued by private persons or groups claiming that the state violated a statute enacted by Congress is known as state:

Correct Answer
verified

The power to regulate commerce is an example of a ___________ power with the American federal system.

Correct Answer
verified

In proposing the Tenth Amendment after the ratification of the Constitution, Congress sought to limit the power of the national government by:

Correct Answer
verified

In 2015, the Supreme Court declared that under _______________, states were required to honor same-sex marriage licenses from other states

Correct Answer
verified

The Constitution's commerce clause gives the federal government power to:

Correct Answer
verified

The framers intended for the judicial branch to be the preeminent branch, regulating and dictating the behavior of the other two branches.

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

The power to levy taxes is an example of a(n) _____________ power.

Correct Answer
verified

Would Americans want each state to set its own air and water pollution control policies? Why or why not?

Correct Answer
verified
• Pro: Each state can choose the level o...
View Answer

Most states have amended their constitutions to allow their larger cities more control over their own affairs, or "home rule."

Correct Answer
verified

How has the national government used grants-in-aid financing to exercise influence over state and local governments?

Correct Answer
verified
Grants-in-aid induce state and local aut...
View Answer

Two or more states reach a legally binding agreement about how to solve a problem that crosses state lines through:

Correct Answer
verified

Exam 3: Federalism and the Separation of Powers

What does the state power of eminent domain, which allows for the taking of properties in exchange for fair compensation, require the land to be used for?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) , popularly referred to as Obamacare, increased the percentage of Americans covered by health insurance.A Supreme Court ruling, however, made optional the funding of coverage for many lower-income people.Why was this the case?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Morton Grodzins described the shift from the use of federal grants as a means of supplementing states' traditional functions to a post-1960s era marked by intergovernmental cooperation as a move from "layer cake" to "marble cake" federalism because:

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Within the system of separated powers, the framers provided for supremacy by the:

Correct AnswerverifiedD

The Supreme Court, in a 2012 ruling, held that states could keep their citizens from buying insurance under the Affordable Care Act, popularly known as Obamacare.

Correct AnswerverifiedFalse

The condition in American government in which the presidency is controlled by one party while the opposing party controls one or both houses of Congress is known as:

Correct AnswerverifiedD

Mechanisms through which each branch of government participates in and influences the activities of the other branches are referred to as:

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The legal doctrine holding that states cannot be sued by private persons or groups claiming that the state violated a statute enacted by Congress is known as state:

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The power to regulate commerce is an example of a ___________ power with the American federal system.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

In proposing the Tenth Amendment after the ratification of the Constitution, Congress sought to limit the power of the national government by:

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

In 2015, the Supreme Court declared that under _______________, states were required to honor same-sex marriage licenses from other states

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The Constitution's commerce clause gives the federal government power to:

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The framers intended for the judicial branch to be the preeminent branch, regulating and dictating the behavior of the other two branches.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The power to levy taxes is an example of a(n) _____________ power.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Would Americans want each state to set its own air and water pollution control policies? Why or why not?

Correct Answerverified• Pro: Each state can choose the level o...View AnswerShow Answer

Most states have amended their constitutions to allow their larger cities more control over their own affairs, or "home rule."

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

How has the national government used grants-in-aid financing to exercise influence over state and local governments?

Correct AnswerverifiedGrants-in-aid induce state and local aut...View AnswerShow Answer

Two or more states reach a legally binding agreement about how to solve a problem that crosses state lines through:

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

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D

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False

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D

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• Pro: Each state can choose the level o...
View Answer

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Grants-in-aid induce state and local aut...
View Answer

Correct Answer
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