Federalism Exam Questions with Correct Answers

Federalism Exam Questions with Correct Answers What is federalism? - Answer-a system of government in which powers are divided between a national government and regional government. It allows for shared power, dual sovereignty and creates a compound republic. What are the advantages and disadvantages of federalism? - Answer-it prevents abuse of power, it reflects preferences of citizens, its more responsive to citizens and it allows for innovation - states can act as laboratories of democracy. What happens when federal and state laws conflict? - Answer-national laws and treates are always superior to state laws whenever the two clash - based off supremacy clause How does the federal government get states to act as they wish? What are the carrots and stick? - Answer-The government gets states to act as they wish through incentives. The carrots are grants in aid (categorical or block), but in order to receive grants they must pass mandates Why is the Chattahooche River Dispute an example of federalism? - Answer-it raises the issue of interstate boundaries- who has proper right to use what amount of the water. Are local governments included in the definition of federalism? - Answer-local governments are not included in definition of the state. they are creatures of the state What did Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis mean by calling state "laboratories of democracy?" What are some examples of this? - Answer-he meant that voters in states could implement policies to see if they work at the state level, before they are implemented at the national levels. Some examples include California being the first state to limit greenhouse gas emissions, states funding stem cell research, expanding health care etc.