Federalism Review Questions for AP U.S. Government

Review Answers

1. B. Governmental power is divided between the national and state governments, each operating within the same geographic territory with power over a single population. Providing for complex governmental activities (A) and allowing for the duplication of government offices and functions (D) are not usually considered major strengths of federalism. The Constitution is a very flexible document (C). One type of mandate, the unfunded mandate, requires state or local governments to meet the mandate's requirement at their own expense (E).
2. D.McCulloch v. Maryland upheld Article VI of the Constitution, which declares the Constitution the "supreme law of the land" (E). The Supreme Court (C) was established by Article III of the Constitution as the highest court of the judicial branch. Answer choices A and B were not provisions of the decision in McCulloch v. Maryland.
3. D. Geographic integrity of the states is a guarantee of the national government to the states, not of the states to each other.
4. A. Protecting the public health, welfare, and morals is a reserved power of the states. The other answer choices represent concurrent powers, or those shared by both the national and state governments.
5. E. Cooperative federalism involves the national government and state governments working together to solve problems, often with a blending (similar to that of a marble cake) of responsibilities. Choices A and B are not the best descriptions of cooperative federalism because neither reflects mutual sharing and planning between the national and state governments. "Layer cake federalism" (C) describes dual federalism. New federalism (D) places more responsibility on the states about how grant money is spent.
6. B. Richard Nixon began the program of new federalism to place responsibility on the states for the spending of grant money. New federalism continued under succeeding presidents, particularly Ronald Reagan (C) and George H. W. Bush (A).
7. E. Mandates, revenue sharing, grants-in-aid, and project grants (a type of categorical grant) are forms of fiscal federalism.
8. D. Revenue sharing has a "no strings attached" policy for the states receiving money. Some mandates require the use of state or local funds (A). Categorical grants (B) may require matching funds from state or local governments. Block grants (C) have fewer strings attached than categorical grants. The federal government requires grants-in-aid (E) to be used for specific projects or programs.
9. A. Conflicts between national and state authority may arise under the system of federalism. While federalism provides for a strong national government, power is not concentrated in the national government (B). State governments remain close to the people (C), and the needs of state governments are accommodated under federalism (D). The national government respects the geographic integrity of each state (E).
10. B. Article I, Section 9 denies certain powers to the national government; Article I, Section 10 denies powers to the state governments. Article I, Section 8 (A) details the powers of Congress. Article IV, Section 4 (C) guarantees each state a republican form of government. Article I, Section 8, Clause 18 (D) is the "necessary and proper clause." Article IV, Section I (E) contains the "full faith and credit clause."