GOV Ch 6 - Federalism

According to the U.S. Constitution, the national government must guarantee that every state government

• has a republican form of state government.

• updates its laws regularly.

• has a bicameral legislature.

• must pay Federal taxes.

Which of these officeholders is typically a county government official?

• sheriff

• senator

• governor

• delegate

Presidents Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan both advocated a policy known as devolution. What was this policy aimed at?

• transferring power back to the states

• limiting taxes levied by states

• cutting back on welfare

• reducing federal grants to the states

Which of these descriptions best defines gerrymandering?

• drawing legislative district boundaries to give one group an advantage

• interpreting laws in a way that benefits the party in power

• enlarging a court by the addition of politically appointed judges

• combining local governments into larger units to increase their influence

Which of these terms refers to legislation the national government requires state or local governments to implement largely at their own expense?

• unfunded mandates

• block grants

• grants-in-aid

• federal regulations

In which kind of court would a driver protesting a speeding ticket most likely appear?

• municipal court

• appeals court

• small claims court

• Federal court

President Lyndon Johnson’s Great Society programs began a new era of national-state relations in the 1960s. Political scientists describe this era as one of

• regulated federalism.

• cooperative federalism.

• traditional federalism.

• dual federalism.

Which of these units of government is most likely to regulate water systems, cemeteries, hospitals, sewers, fire protection services, and schools?

• a special-purpose district

• a city council

• a state legislature

• a county board of supervisors

Which of these is a common way to amend a state constitution?

• A proposal starts in Congress, then is voted on by the states

• The governor drafts an amendment, and the legislature adopts it.

• Petitioners request an amendment, and the state courts endorse it.

• The legislature proposes an amendment, and the governor approves it.

Which form of city government, combining democratic rule with professional expertise, is most common in the United States today?

• council-manager

• elected commission

• weak mayor-council

• strong mayor-council