Title: Federalism
Course: Joni's Quizzes

Q: What is federalism?
- A system of government where the national government makes policy making and state or regional governments carry out the policies the central government approves.
- A system of government where state governments dominate and the national government is very weak, without any real power over the states, somewhat like the United Nations.
- A system where power is divided between national and state or regional governments; a hybrid arrangement somewhere between a unitary style government and a confederal system.
A: A system where power is divided between national and state or regional governments; a hybrid arrangement somewhere between a unitary style government and a confederal system.

Q: What powers does the Constitution grant to the national government?
- General powers.
- Police powers.
- Exclusive, concurrent, and implied.
A: Exclusive, concurrent, and implied.

Q: What powers does the Constitution grant to state governments?
- Those listed in Article 1, Section 8 of the Constitution; for instance, the right to regulate interstate commerce.
- The power to nullify national laws.
- Police powers and reserved powers.
A: Police powers and reserved powers.

Q: What were major factors contribuing to changes in the distribution of power between the national government and the states?
- Americans grew to prefer that their own states be able to nullify federal laws when they disapproved of them.
- States proved much better positioned to deal with the regulation of industrial capitalism, as well as civil rights and liberties, so power has naturally devolved to the state level over the course of two centuries.
- Attempts to deal with the consequences of industrialization that seemed to require a more nation-centered approach, and a more purposeful national commitment to the enhancement of civil liberties and civil rights after WWII.
A: Attempts to deal with the consequences of industrialization that seemed to require a more nation-centered approach, and a more purposeful national commitment to the enhancement of civil liberties and civil rights after WWII.

Q: Which of the following is historically accurate?
- During the New Deal of the 1930s, dual federalism, a clear division of labor between national and state government, became the dominant doctrine until the 1960s.
- During the first decades of the republic, cooperative federalism, whereby federal and state governments worked together to solve problems, held sway. Such a doctrine was largely discredited after the Civil War.
- During the New Deal of the 1930s, cooperative federalism, whereby federal and state governments work together to solve problems, emerged and held sway until the 1960s.
A: During the New Deal of the 1930s, cooperative federalism, whereby federal and state governments work together to solve problems, emerged and held sway until the 1960s.

Q: Which of the following properly describes the "compact theory" of federalism?
- Compact theory held that states had voluntarily entered into a “compact” to ratify the Constitution, and could therefore "nullify" or judge for itself whether or not an act by the federal government was constitutional and, if it decided to do so, refuse to enforce it. This is still considered a legitimate interpretation of states' rights under American federalism.
- Compact theory held that states should cooperate with the national government when implementing policy that involves more than one state.
- Compact theory held that states had voluntarily entered into a “compact” to ratify the Constitution, and could therefore "nullify" or judge for itself whether or not an act by the federal government was constitutional and, if it decided to do so, refuse to enforce it. This is no longer considered a legitimate interpretation of states' rights under American federalism.
A: Compact theory held that states had voluntarily entered into a “compact” to ratify the Constitution, and could therefore "nullify" or judge for itself whether or not an act by the federal government was constitutional and, if it decided to do so, refuse to enforce it. This is no longer considered a legitimate interpretation of states' rights under American federalism.

Q: Reasons given that state and local governments are essential parts of federalism:
- Cities and states are best positioned to reject federal mandates when Congress goes beyond their constitutionally authorized powers.
- State and local govenments are best positioned to finance large programs mandated by the federal government and are also able to generate more tax revenue to pay for programs than is the national government.
- The federal government routinely needs them to execute national policy. Also, state and local governments are in a position to implement policies flexibly to match their residents' political preferences and needs.
A: The federal government routinely needs them to execute national policy. Also, state and local governments are in a position to implement policies flexibly to match their residents' political preferences and needs.

Q: ALEC is an organization that _________.
- provides a good example of disinterested political behavior in the sense that its efforts are geared towards furthering the public good rather than that of particular special interests.
- demonstrates that it is always better to devolve decision-making authority down to the state and local levels since those governments are closer to the people and thereby better positioned to represent the will of the people in those settings.
- provides corporate-friendly model legislation that state representatives propose in their various legislative bodies. Its success complicates the notion that government closer to the people is more democratic since this example of corporate influence suggests that policy in smaller state and local governments can be more easily "captured" by concentrated private interests.
A: provides corporate-friendly model legislation that state representatives propose in their various legislative bodies. Its success complicates the notion that government closer to the people is more democratic since this example of corporate influence suggests that policy in smaller state and local governments can be more easily "captured" by concentrated private interests.

Q: When advocates of federalism say that states are "laboratories of democracy," what do they mean?
- It is better that states leave most policy decisions to local governments because the former end up producing Frankenstein's monsters when they take the lead.
- It is better that the national government takes the lead in policy-making by trying different things in different states, which limits the damage when politicians in Washington, DC screw up.
- States can try novel social and economic experiments without risk to the rest of the country, and if they are successful, can be adopted by other states or the nation as a whole. For example, the successful healthcare reform signed into law by Mitt Romney in Massachusetts ended up being the model for Obamacare.
A: States can try novel social and economic experiments without risk to the rest of the country, and if they are successful, can be adopted by other states or the nation as a whole. For example, the successful healthcare reform signed into law by Mitt Romney in Massachusetts ended up being the model for Obamacare.