Exam 3: Federalism and the Separation of Powers

The authors of the U.S. Constitution used a strategy of separation of powers to limit the power of the government by

The no-strings-attached stimulus spending bill enacted in 2009 marked a significant shift away from regulated federalism.

Shortly after its founding, the Supreme Court quickly encouraged Congress to exercise the power granted in the necessary and proper clause.

In the late nineteenth century, when the national government sought to use its power to regulate the economy rather than merely promote economic development, the Supreme Court's interpretation of the concept of interstate commerce began to operate more as a

Which term describes federal subsidies of special state and local governments on the condition that they be used for a specific purpose?

A government that has supreme and independent political authority is said to have

A well-known contemporary example of a legally binding compact between two states is the

Should the United States consider abolishing the federal system to facilitate a more unified response to modern problems? Why or why not?

Describe the historical eras of national and state government relations in the American federal system.

The idea that states should oppose the increasing authority of the national government is known as

Using the concept of path dependency, explain how contemporary attempts to adopt national policies are constrained by institutional decisions made by the Founders.

In the early years of the Republic, states turned to compacts primarily to settle border disputes.

The use of federalism to distribute power among multiple actors is an example of which of the five principles of politics?

What is a writ of habeas corpus?

Why does the president have an advantage over the legislative branch when they disagree?

Define federalism and explain which issues have traditionally been considered national policy questions, which issues have traditionally been the responsibility of states, and which policy domains have customarily been shared concurrently between federal and state governments.

All of the following are congressional checks on the executive branch EXCEPT

All of the following are congressional checks on the judiciary EXCEPT

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.

Separation of powers means that within the national government there is a clear decision-making hierarchy.