AP US Government and Politics
Mr. Logan’s Class
Chapter 3 Study Questions
1.
Describe the evolution of federalism over the course of American history. Provide
specific social/policy developments or Supreme Court decisions for each
evolutionary step.
Answer: An ideal response will:
1. Identify the major forms of federalism and the era with which each is associated:
dual federalism (1868–1913), cooperative federalism (1913–1964), centralized
federalism (1964–1980), and new federalism (1980–2010). Students may include
state-centered federalism (1787–1868) and progressive federalism (present).
2. Detail events leading to each form of federalism.
3. Detail the major legislative/social policy developments during each period and
explain how the dominant form of federalism led to these developments.
4. Describe several major Supreme Court opinions that shaped federalism through
time.
Page Reference: pp. 77–84; pp. 84–94; pp. 94–95; pp. 95–100
A–head: The Constitutional Basis of Federalism; Intergovernmental Relations; Diversity in
Policy; Understanding Federalism
Learning Objective: Edwards L.O. 3.2; L.O. 3.3; L.O. 3.4; L.O. 3.5
Skill Level: Analyze It
Topic: Federalism
2.
Discuss how devolution impacted social service policy and legislation in the 1990s.
Answer: An ideal response will:
1. Explain devolution in detail with emphasis on the return of administrative power
to the states.
2. Discuss the relationship between welfare reform and devolution with emphasis on
the passage of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families.
3. Explain the pros and cons of devolution, including the ability to experiment with
state-specific solutions to social problems, and the difficulty of a subnational unit of
government to tackle major social problems effectively.
Page Reference: pp. 84–94
A–head: Intergovernmental Relations
Learning Objective: Edwards L.O. 3.3
Skill Level: Analyze It
Topic: Federalism
3.
Explain how the federal government uses federal funding to indirectly impose its will
upon the states.
Answer: An ideal response will:
1. Describe fiscal federalism.
2. Define types of federal funding to the states and the ways in which the type of
funding influences the amount of control the federal government has over the
actions of states receiving the money.
Page Reference: pp. 84–94
A–head: Intergovernmental Relations
Learning Objective: Edwards L.O. 3.3
Skill Level: Analyze It
Topic: Federalism
4.
Explain why today’s federalism is or is not an effective form of government for the
United States. Be specific in supporting your argument.
Answer: An ideal response will:
1. Form a coherent argument with specific support.
2. Explain that the United States has a large and heterogeneous population with
significant regional differences. A pro-federalist argument may state that the
federalist system allows a large and diverse population to have unity without
requiring uniformity; an anti-federalist or earlier federalist argument might highlight a
removed or ineffective federal bureaucracy or a failure to address regional
differences. On the positive side, federalism provides for effective representation of
local interests, reduces conflict at the national level, encourages acceptance of losing
elections, and increases the opportunities for citizens to participate in government
and see their policy preferences reflected in law. On the negative side, federalism
increases the opportunities for local interests to thwart national policy, can result in
the election of a president not favored by a majority of the public, and complicates
efforts to make government responsive.
3. Address problem-solving by state and national government.
4. Discuss issues of security and commerce.
Page Reference: 95–100
A–head: Understanding Federalism
Learning Objective: Edwards L.O. 3.5
Skill Level: Analyze It
Topic: Federalism
5.
In what ways was Brown v. Board of Education a dispute between states’ rights and
national power?
Answer: An ideal response will:
1. Explain the holding of Brown v. Board of Education.
2. Analyze the tension between state and federal control over education.
3. Evaluate the role of federalism in the racial tensions of the 1950s.
Page Reference: pp. 75–76
A–head: Defining Federalism
Learning Objective: Edwards L.O. 3.1
Skill Level: Analyze It
Topic: Federalism