Exam 3: Federalism and the Separation of Powers

Wherever there is a direct conflict of laws between the federal and the state levels,the issue will most likely be resolved in favor of states' rights.

Describe how the balance of power has shifted between the national and state governments in the American federal system over time.

The state of Michigan passed a law that allowed wineries within the state to ship wine directly to Michigan consumers without having to go through a wholesaler.The same law prohibited out-of-state wineries from doing the same.In effect,the cost of out-of-state wine increased as it had to go through a wholesaler,thereby providing incentives for Michigan consumers to purchase Michigan wine.However,in 2005,the Supreme Court ruled in Granholm v.Heald that the law was unconstitutional as it discriminated against out-of-state wineries.Which clause of the Constitution was used to declare the Michigan law unconstitutional?

When President Nixon refused to respond to a subpoena to make available his infamous White House tapes as evidence in a criminal prosecution,the Supreme Court declared his refusal unconstitutional.This court action limited the president's right to:

Review of the constitutionality of acts of the president or Congress by the U.S.Supreme Court has been relatively routine and common.

The Unfunded Mandate Reform Act (UMRA)represents a serious effort to strengthen the domination of the federal government over the states.

In Brown v.Board of Education (1954),the Supreme Court ruled that schools segregated by race were unconstitutional.In response,some states opposed to desegregation passed laws to prevent the desegregation of schools.However,the Supreme Court again ruled in Cooper v.Aaron (1958)that their 1954 decision was binding on all states,regardless of conflicting state laws.Which clause in the Constitution allowed the Supreme Court to make this 1958 ruling?

Powers derived from the necessary and proper clause of Article I,Section 8,of the Constitution are called:

In essence,the fifty individual American states are agencies of the national government.

Funds that are given by Congress to states and localities and that are earmarked by law for specific categories are known as:

The first Supreme Court decision since the New Deal that limited claims of federal authority under the commerce clause was:

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

The power delegated by the state to a local unit of government to manage its own affairs is called:

Under the U.S.Constitution,state governments can enter into agreements with one another,subject to congressional approval.

Which principle,bolstered by the Tenth Amendment,made it difficult for the federal government to address the issue of slavery prior to the Civil War?

The main issue in the 1824 case Gibbons v.Ogden was the question of the state of New York's power to grant a monopoly to:

What do you see as the advantages and disadvantages of federalism?

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

Grant programs in which state and local governments submit proposals to federal agencies and for which funding is provided on a competitive basis are known as ________ grants.

Powers derived from the Tenth Amendment to the Constitution that are not specifically delegated to the national government or denied to the states are known as ________ powers.