US Federal System 5

Question 1

The term 'fiscal federalism' refers to:

Accepted Answer

The financial relationships and transfer of funds between federal and state governments

Answer

States setting their own tax rates free from federal interference

Answer

Congress balancing the federal budget through state contributions

Answer

States forming compacts to share tax revenue

Question 2

Interstate compacts, formal agreements between two or more states, require approval from:

Accepted Answer

Congress

Answer

The President only

Answer

The Supreme Court

Answer

A majority of all 50 state legislatures

Question 3

Under New York v. United States (1992), the Supreme Court struck down a federal law because it:

Accepted Answer

Commandeered state legislatures to enact federal regulatory programs

Answer

Exceeded the Commerce Clause authority

Answer

Violated the Spending Clause by withholding all federal funds

Answer

Preempted state environmental laws without justification

Question 4

Which approach to interpreting federal power holds that states retain broad sovereign immunity from being sued in federal court?

Accepted Answer

Eleventh Amendment federalism

Answer

Cooperative federalism

Answer

Marble-cake federalism

Answer

Fiscal federalism

Question 5

Which constitutional provision explicitly prohibits states from entering into treaties, alliances, or confederations with foreign nations?

Accepted Answer

Article I, Section 10

Answer

Article II, Section 2

Answer

Article IV, Section 3

Answer

The Tenth Amendment

Question 6

The political doctrine known as 'nullification,' advanced by John C. Calhoun in the 1830s, argued that states had the power to:

Accepted Answer

Void federal laws they deemed unconstitutional within their borders

Answer

Propose constitutional amendments without congressional approval

Answer

Elect federal judges directly

Answer

Override federal executive orders by popular referendum

Question 7

In NFIB v. Sebelius (2012), Chief Justice Roberts's plurality opinion held that the ACA's Medicaid expansion was unconstitutional as written because it:

Accepted Answer

Coerced states by threatening to strip ALL existing Medicaid funding

Answer

Exceeded the Commerce Clause authority entirely

Answer

Violated the Tenth Amendment by commandeering state executives

Answer

Was not authorized by the Necessary and Proper Clause