T/F Quiz on Federalism
1) Federalism allows for two or more
forms of government to have
authority over the same land area
and people. It is a very common
form of government.
False – it is an uncommon form
of government
2)Our federal system serves to
decentralize our political process
and our policies.
True
3) Social, moral, and family issues
are always the purview of the states.
There is little interest groups can do
to get the federal government to
influence the states on these issues.
False (drinking ages, etc.)
4) State governments are usually
more innovative than the national
government in terms of policy
making and reforms.
True
5) The supremacy clause outlines
the specific ways in which the state
governments can wield supreme
power.
False – established the
Constitution and federal laws as
supreme law of the land
6) The 10th Amendment gives the
states and the people control over
all issues not specifically assigned to
the federal government by the
Constitution.
True
7) The two key outcomes of
McCulloch v. Maryland were the
supremacy of the Constitution and
the existence of legitimate implied
powers.
True
8) Over time the courts have
supported a very narrow definition
of commerce as it relates to
regulation by the federal
government.
False – the definition is very
broad
9) The Civil War and subsequent
Civil Rights movement had little
or nothing to do with Federalism.
Seriously?
False
10) Full faith and credit means that
if you have a driver’s license or
marriage license from CA it must be
honored by all other states.
True
11) Dual federalism refers
primarily to the way that the
state and federal governments
cooperate on certain issues.
False – pertains to each being
dominant in its own sphere
12) As the federal government has
gradually asserted its dominance,
cooperative federalism is more
prevalent than dual federalism in
the way we are governed.
True
13) Shared costs and administration
and federal guidelines are the three
key characteristics of cooperative
federalism.
True
14) The Republican Revolution of
1994 successfully limited the
scope of the federal government.
False – in actuality, the Republicans
passed many policies that increased
the power/responsibility of the
federal government
15) Fiscal federalism, refers to the
pattern of taxing, spending and
providing grants to states. It is the
cornerstone of our federal system.
True
16) Categorical grants are the
main source of federal funding
for the states. They are virtually
unrestricted on their use.
False – they are main funding,
but usually very restricted. Block
grants are less restricted
17) States are usually very
diplomatic and fair minded
toward one another when it
comes to allocating federal funds.
False – they fight hard to win
funding
18) A federal mandate is a
program established by the
federal government that must be
carried out by the states.
True
19) Federalism allows for greater
diversity in public policy and
creates more opportunities for
democratic involvement.
True
20) One of the main disadvantages
of federalism is the varying amounts
of resources states allocate to
programs like education, and local
interests sometimes thwart majority
support for national policies.
True
21) Government spending as a
percentage of GDP has steadily
declined since WWII, and is now
below 15%.
False – it has risen steadily and is
about 22%