Chapter Four: Federalism

Some of our nation's founders refused to attend the Constitutional Convention because they

• feared a strong national government would diminish states' rights.

• believed that powers should be divided among different branches of government.

• wanted a republican form of government, instead of unitary rule.

• argued that the United States would be stronger as a federal system.

What are expressed powers?

• governmental powers listed in the Constitution

• logical extensions of governmental powers listed in the Constitution

• powers historically recognized as belonging to a national government

• powers held by the states

Which constitutional clause is the source of the implied powers of the national government?

• full faith and credit clause

• necessary and proper clause

• reserved powers clause

• supremacy clause

Reserved powers are powers that the Constitution

• specifically lists as state powers.

• assigns to both the state and the national government.

• gives only to the national government.

• neither gives to the national government nor prohibits to the states.

The full faith and credit clause ensures that states give “full faith and credit” to

• the Constitution.

• a republican form of government.

• the public acts and official records of other states.

• a person convicted of a crime that was not a criminal act at the time it was committed.

Which of the following is the best description of federalism?

• A supreme federal government grants certain powers to states.

• Different levels of government share authority over the same land and people.

Which of the following is a power reserved to the states?

• printing money

• collecting taxes

• controlling public school systems

• establishing court systems

What is the meaning of the supremacy clause?

• States are supreme in all areas not delegated to the federal government.

• If federal and state laws conflict, federal laws take precedence so long as they are judged to be constitutional.

• The Supreme Court has the final word in all court cases in the United States.

• State judges have the final word in all cases arising under state law.

The main responsibility for resolving conflicts between the states and the federal government lies with which of the following?

• U.S. Supreme Court

• Congress

• president

• state supreme courts

According to the doctrine of nullification, states could

• refuse to obey or enforce federal laws with which they disagreed.

• appeal directly to the Supreme Court any act of Congress to which they objected.

• secede from the Union and form a new nation.

• cancel debts owed by their residents to citizens of other states.