Which of the following statements about the state governments is accurate?

Which of the following statements about the state governments is accurate?

A) They carry out virtually all the functions they always have, while the national government has taken on new functions.

B) The national government has taken away nearly all the functions the states used to perform.

C) The national government has taken away about half the functions the states used to perform.

D) There has been a sharp decrease in the proportion of gross national product spent by states and localities since 1929.

E) Their policy functions have nearly been taken over by the national government.








Answer: A

Today, the national government spends about

Today, the national government spends about

A) a tenth of our gross domestic product.

B) a half of our gross domestic product.

C) 100 percent of our gross domestic product.

D) a fifth of our gross domestic product.

E) a third of our gross domestic product.




Answer: D

Since 1929, the national government's share of American governmental expenditures has

Since 1929, the national government's share of American governmental expenditures has

A) dropped.

B) remained the same.

C) approached nearly 100 percent.

D) grown rapidly.

E) grown at a slower rate than the states' share.






Answer: D

The rapid growth of the national government is largely due to the fact that

The rapid growth of the national government is largely due to the fact that

A) the diversity of interests within and among the states require a national focus.

B) states are constitutionally prohibited from maintaining independent defense forces and policies.

C) the states have failed to adequately represent their interests.

D) the Constitution requires that most programs be administered by the national government.

E) most problems and policies require the authority and resources of the national government.







Answer: E

Today, roughly ________ of the gross domestic product is spent by state and local governments.

Today, roughly ________ of the gross domestic product is spent by state and local governments.

A) 7.5 percent

B) 25 percent

C) 10 percent

D) 15 percent

E) 1 percent






Answer: E

The proportion of the United States gross national product spent by state and local governments has ________ since 1929.

The proportion of the United States gross national product spent by state and local governments has ________ since 1929.

A) increased at a much faster rate compared to the national government

B) increased, but not nearly as fast as the national government's

C) dropped considerably

D) remained steady

E) dropped slightly





Answer: B

Today, the national government spends roughly ________ of the gross domestic product.

Today, the national government spends roughly ________ of the gross domestic product.

A) 15 percent

B) 20 percent

C) 2.5 percent

D) 9 percent

E) 44 percent






Answer: B

America's ________ society makes it more sensible to have Social Security administered on a national rather than a state-by-state basis.

America's ________ society makes it more sensible to have Social Security administered on a national rather than a state-by-state basis.

A) electronic

B) free enterprise

C) mobile

D) multi-ethnic

E) aging





Answer: B

Over the last 125 years the people of the United States have turned increasingly to the national government to solve problems or provide assistance because

Over the last 125 years the people of the United States have turned increasingly to the national government to solve problems or provide assistance because

A) the Tenth Amendment gave increased power to the national government.

B) a problem or policy often requires the authority and resources of the national government.

C) of corruption at the state level.

D) we have a unitary government.

E) of persistent corruption in state and local government.






Answer: B

Which of the following statements is FALSE?

Which of the following statements is FALSE?

A) Federalism reduces decision making and conflict at the national level.

B) Federalism reduces the opportunities for political participation.

C) Federalism allows the diversity of opinion within the country to be reflected in different public policies among the states.

D) There are over a half million elected officials in the United States as a result of the federal system.

E) The federal system ensures that each state can establish a power base to promote its interests.






Answer: B

Which of the following statements is FALSE?

Which of the following statements is FALSE?

A) The federal government has given billions of dollars in subsidies to private industries.

B) The national government took a direct interest in economic affairs from the very founding of the republic.

C) As the country became more industrialized many interests asked the national government to restrain monopolies and encourage open competition.

D) As the country became more industrialized and urbanized, economic interest groups turned to the state governments rather than the federal government for help.

E) The national government has increasingly involved itself in the economic marketplace.






Answer: D

How many governments are there in the United States?

How many governments are there in the United States?

A) 538

B) over 100,000

C) 51

D) one

E) 50





Answer: B

Spending on public education illustrates

Spending on public education illustrates

A) cooperation between states and federal government for unified policy.

B) the advantages of fiscal federalism.

C) the diversity in the quality of education among states as a result of federalism.

D) the national curriculum that exists in the United States.

E) advantages of relying on states to supply public services.






Answer: C

Each of the following is considered a disadvantage of federalism for democracy EXCEPT

Each of the following is considered a disadvantage of federalism for democracy EXCEPT

A) local interests may be able to thwart national majority support of certain policies.

B) powerful interests in a state can use the state as a power base to promote their interests.

C) voter turnout rates in state and local elections are even lower than in national elections.

D) large number of governments in the United States make exercising democratic control more difficult.

E) policy diversity can discourage states from providing services that would otherwise be available.







Answer: B

As a result of our federal form of government, the death penalty in the United States

As a result of our federal form of government, the death penalty in the United States

A) is mandatory.

B) is in violation of the Eighth Amendment.

C) is permissible at the federal level, but banned at the state level.

D) varies substantially by state.

E) is permissible because it is not considered cruel and unusual punishment.







Answer: D

Federalism contributes to democracy by each of the following ways EXCEPT

Federalism contributes to democracy by each of the following ways EXCEPT

A) easing the burdens on the national government so it can function more effectively.

B) increasing the opportunities for government to be responsive to demands for policies.

C) increasing access to government.

D) having state governments add thousands of elected offices for which citizens may vote or run.

E) providing a means for unified public policy.







Answer: E

Federalism is advantageous for democracy for each of the following reasons EXCEPT

Federalism is advantageous for democracy for each of the following reasons EXCEPT

A) allows for a greater diversity of opinion to be reflected in public policies.

B) increases the number of decisions and compromises made at the national level.

C) increases access to government.

D) allows more opportunities for political participation.

E) allows customization of policies for local needs.








Answer: B

Business interests have traditionally found their demands received most favorably by

Business interests have traditionally found their demands received most favorably by

A) state governments.

B) the courts.

C) Congress.

D) the president.

E) cities.






Answer: A

Sometimes states tackle problems that are generally considered national problems. This is most likely to occur when the federal government acts in a way that most state residents do not like. An example of this is

Sometimes states tackle problems that are generally considered national problems. This is most likely to occur when the federal government acts in a way that most state residents do not like. An example of this is

A) state funding for stem cell research in California.

B) lowering the minimum wage.

C) collecting taxes on purchases made on the Internet.

D) restrictions on the chemicals that can be used for developing digital photographs.

E) local school board policies about which textbooks are appropriate.






Answer: A

______ have usually found the individual state governments to be more sympathetic than the national government to their demands.

______ have usually found the individual state governments to be more sympathetic than the national government to their demands.

A) Feminists

B) Civil rights advocates

C) Business interests

D) Those favoring the closing of military bases

E) Supporters of organized labor





Answer: C