Exam 3: Federalism and the Separation of Powers

The Supreme Court, in a 2012 ruling, held that states could keep their citizens from buying insurance under the Affordable Care Act, popularly known as Obamacare.

Within the system of separated powers, the framers provided for supremacy by the:

The condition in American government in which the presidency is controlled by one party while the opposing party controls one or both houses of Congress is known as:

The power to regulate commerce is an example of a ___________ power with the American federal system.

Morton Grodzins described the shift from the use of federal grants as a means of supplementing states' traditional functions to a post-1960s era marked by intergovernmental cooperation as a move from "layer cake" to "marble cake" federalism because:

The Affordable Care Act (ACA), popularly referred to as Obamacare, increased the percentage of Americans covered by health insurance.A Supreme Court ruling, however, made optional the funding of coverage for many lower-income people.Why was this the case?

The Constitution's commerce clause gives the federal government power to:

In a federal system, state governments retain sovereignty, which prevents the federal government from directly interfering in the fiscal matters of states, even given the amount of money states receive in federal aid.However, state governments can become directly involved in the fiscal matters of local governments.Why is this the case?

Two or more states reach a legally binding agreement about how to solve a problem that crosses state lines through:

In proposing the Tenth Amendment after the ratification of the Constitution, Congress sought to limit the power of the national government by:

Mechanisms through which each branch of government participates in and influences the activities of the other branches are referred to as:

The power to levy taxes is an example of a(n) _____________ power.

Most states have amended their constitutions to allow their larger cities more control over their own affairs, or "home rule."

The framers intended for the judicial branch to be the preeminent branch, regulating and dictating the behavior of the other two branches.

How has the national government used grants-in-aid financing to exercise influence over state and local governments?

One of the largest nonfederal government organizations in the United States is the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.It oversees airports, bridges, tunnels, and train systems, and developed New York City's One World Trade Center.It has its own police force.Governors of each state appoint board members.If states are supposed to be independent, how does this organization exist?

The legal doctrine holding that states cannot be sued by private persons or groups claiming that the state violated a statute enacted by Congress is known as state:

Would Americans want each state to set its own air and water pollution control policies? Why or why not?

What does the state power of eminent domain, which allows for the taking of properties in exchange for fair compensation, require the land to be used for?

In 2015, the Supreme Court declared that under _______________, states were required to honor same-sex marriage licenses from other states