AP Government [MCQs] - Federalism

e. Federalism

Which constitutional principle most directly addresses the relationship between the national and state governments?

a. Checks and Balances

b. The Bill of Rights

c. Separation of powers

d. Representation

e. Federalism

d. divided between the central government and regional governments

In a federal system of government, political power is primarily…

a. vested in local governments

b. vested in the regional governments

c. vested in the central government

d. divided between the central government and regional governments

e. divided between regional governments and local governments

b. Federalism

Which constitutional principle best explains the differences in poverty rates in the US ?

a. Checks and balances

b. Federalism

c. Equal protection

d. Enumerated powers

b. Federalism creates differences between states on the implementation of health-care policy

Which of the following characteristics best explains the varying percentages of Americans having Health Care throughout each state?

a. The exclusive powers granted to the states in the Constitution allow them to determine health-care policy

b. Federalism creates differences between states on the implementation of health-care policy

c. The Tenth Amendment instructs Congress to make laws but guarantees the rights of states to implement federal policies, such as health care policy

d The incorporation of the Fourteenth Amendment has allowed the federal government to guaranteed health are to all citizens, but some citizens may opt out

d. The federal government provides about 25% of the total funding for highways and transit in the United States, while the other 75% of the funding comes from states.

Which of the following scenarios best illustrates the concept of concurrent powers?

a. The president negotiates a treaty regarding climate change with foreign governments, but for the treaty to take effect, it requires approval by the Senate.

b. As commander-in-chief of the military, the president orders troops to a foreign nation to address a potential threat to national security

c. A Senate committee holds a hearing to discuss potential misuse of funds by the Department of Veterans Affairs

d. The federal government provides about 25% of the total funding for highways and transit in the United States, while the other 75% of the funding comes from states.

a. an enumerated power

The United States Constitution says that Congress has the power to coin money. This is an example of

a. an enumerated power

b. an implied power

c. a reserved power

e. a concurrent power

a. Concurrent powers

Which of the following powers allows both the federal and state governments to make policies involving taxation?

a. Concurrent powers

b. Exclusive powers

c. Impied powerws

d. Enumerated powers

c. Education

Which of the following policies involves more state spending than federal spending?

a. Military policy

b. Social security

c. Education

d. Medicare

e. Veteran’s affairs

b. States can create criteria for voting rights so long as they do not violate the United States Constitution

Which of the following best explains why eligibility criteria vary by state?

a. The Twenty-Sixth Amendment is not incorporated to the state

b. States can create criteria for voting rights so long as they do not violate the United States Constitution

c. The president is selected through the electoral college process, and therefore citizens do not actually have a real vote in presidential elections

d. The Voting Rights Act guarantees that each state may determine its own procedures for elections

a. federal law takes precedence overs state law when the laws conflict

The supremacy clause in the Constitution states that…

a. federal law takes precedence overs state law when the laws conflict

b. only Congress may declare war

c. the Senate should have a greater role in foreign affairs than does the House of Representatives

d. the federal government has the right to regulate Interstate Commerce

e. the Supreme Court has the power to overturn decisions of lower courts

d. Separation of powers

Which of the following is the best example of a constitutional concept that supports the vision of the United States as a union of states, rather than a union of individual citizens?

a. Supremacy clause

b. Judicial review

c. The electoral college

d. Separation of powers

c. Citizens and groups seeking policy change can choose from multiple access points

Which of the following is a consequence of having concurrent powers within a federal system of government?

a. The executive branch can expand its control of the policy agenda

b. States can pass laws that override the laws of the federal government

c. Citizens and groups seeking policy change can choose from multiple access points

d. Members of Congress can cultivate close relationships with power brokers in their regions

a. The necessary and proper clause

Which of the following constitutional provisions broadened the power of Congress?

a. The necessary and proper clause

b. The equal protection clause

c. The Tenth Amendment

d. The Ninth Amendment

e. The eminent domain provision in the Fifth Amendment

d. The federal government had the authority to establish a national bank, and Maryland’s tax was unconstitutional

Which of the following is an accurate description of the decision in McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)?

a. The federal government exceeded its authority in establishing a national bank, and Maryland’s tax was unconstituional

b. Maryland was within its authority to tax the federal government, but the Bank of the United States exceeded federal authority

c. The federal government had the authority to establish a national bank, but it had to pay Maryland’s tax

d. The federal government had the authority to establish a national bank, and Maryland’s tax was unconstitutional

b. Smith would disapprove of the court’s decision to expand the federal government’s power to regulate the economy

“The statesman who should attempt to direct private people in what manner they ought to [operate their business] would not only load himself wit ha most unnecessary attention, but assume authority which could safely be trusted, not to no single person, but to no council or senate whatever…”

Based on this passage from Adam Smith, the Wealth of Nations, 1776, which of the following most likely explains how Adam Smith might react to the decision in McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)?

a. Smith would approve of the court’s decision to expand the federal government’s power to regulate the economy

b. Smith would disapprove of the court’s decision to expand the federal government’s power to regulate the economy

c. Smith would disapprove of the court’s decision allowing private businesses to make unlimited contributions to political campaigns

d. Smith would approve of the court’s decision to expand the power of the federal government to promote economic growth