POLS 207 EXAM 1 REVIEW (TAMU SMITH) EXAM QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 2025
Federal government policies - (ANSWER)The only level that can make foreign treaties and declare war.
Cannot manage local police forces.
State government policies - (ANSWER)Education, health and welfare, transportation, public safety, civil
rights, physical environment, taxation
different types of govt - (ANSWER)federalism-way of organizing country with 2 or more levels of govt;
SHARE POWER
unitary-power located centreal; FEDERAL(power)
Confederation-power rests with smaller units;STATES
Different types of Federalism - (ANSWER)dual-layer cake;where st power begins, fed ends
cooperative-marble cake;fed govt reached into st
coercive-TODAYS; influenced by $
Redistributive policies - (ANSWER)policy that provides to 1 group of society while taking benefits away
from other ex:food stamp
Social Stratification - (ANSWER)system which society ranks categories of people in hierarchy
From where do state and local governments derive their revenue? - (ANSWER)Local property taxes-
largest income for local governments
State sales tax- most important income for states
Selective sales tax or excise taxes
State income tax (not in Texas)
Corporate taxes
Lottery and Gambling revenue- admin cost take half of revenue
User charges- fastest growing
Why are states called "laboratories of democracy?" - (ANSWER)They can more easily implement new
policies than the national government. Policy innovators.
, POLS 207 EXAM 1 REVIEW (TAMU SMITH) EXAM QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 2025
What is nullification? - (ANSWER)The legal theory that states can invalidate a federal law which is
deemed unconstitutional. Has never been upheld in a supreme court.
What are enumerated powers? - (ANSWER)Powers expressly given to the federal government in the
constitution.
What are implied powers? - (ANSWER)Powers that are not expressly given to the federal government in
the constitution but given to it under article 1 section 18. The necessary and proper clause.
10th amendment - (ANSWER)States rights- powers not delegated to the US by the constitution, nor
prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states respectively or the people.
Marbury vs Madison (1803) - (ANSWER)Expanded the authority of the supreme court.
Gave the idea of judicial review
Involved Marbury who didn't receive the commission he was supposed to receive from Madison.
McCulloch vs Maryland (1819) - (ANSWER)Expanded the implied powers of the national government.
Fought over whether or not Maryland could tax the national bank branch in that state.
Solidified the idea of preemption and implied powers of Congress.
Why are federal grants in aid important? - (ANSWER)It's the cornerstone of the relationship between
national and state governments. Money between governments.
Categorical grants: money with strings attached, must be spent on certain things.
Block grants: money without strings attached.
Most grant in aid is heath and human services.
What are mandates? - (ANSWER)Federal mandates: orders the state or local governments to comply
with federal laws.
Funded- govt gives $
underfunded- partial $
Federal government policies - (ANSWER)The only level that can make foreign treaties and declare war.
Cannot manage local police forces.
State government policies - (ANSWER)Education, health and welfare, transportation, public safety, civil
rights, physical environment, taxation
different types of govt - (ANSWER)federalism-way of organizing country with 2 or more levels of govt;
SHARE POWER
unitary-power located centreal; FEDERAL(power)
Confederation-power rests with smaller units;STATES
Different types of Federalism - (ANSWER)dual-layer cake;where st power begins, fed ends
cooperative-marble cake;fed govt reached into st
coercive-TODAYS; influenced by $
Redistributive policies - (ANSWER)policy that provides to 1 group of society while taking benefits away
from other ex:food stamp
Social Stratification - (ANSWER)system which society ranks categories of people in hierarchy
From where do state and local governments derive their revenue? - (ANSWER)Local property taxes-
largest income for local governments
State sales tax- most important income for states
Selective sales tax or excise taxes
State income tax (not in Texas)
Corporate taxes
Lottery and Gambling revenue- admin cost take half of revenue
User charges- fastest growing
Why are states called "laboratories of democracy?" - (ANSWER)They can more easily implement new
policies than the national government. Policy innovators.
, POLS 207 EXAM 1 REVIEW (TAMU SMITH) EXAM QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 2025
What is nullification? - (ANSWER)The legal theory that states can invalidate a federal law which is
deemed unconstitutional. Has never been upheld in a supreme court.
What are enumerated powers? - (ANSWER)Powers expressly given to the federal government in the
constitution.
What are implied powers? - (ANSWER)Powers that are not expressly given to the federal government in
the constitution but given to it under article 1 section 18. The necessary and proper clause.
10th amendment - (ANSWER)States rights- powers not delegated to the US by the constitution, nor
prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states respectively or the people.
Marbury vs Madison (1803) - (ANSWER)Expanded the authority of the supreme court.
Gave the idea of judicial review
Involved Marbury who didn't receive the commission he was supposed to receive from Madison.
McCulloch vs Maryland (1819) - (ANSWER)Expanded the implied powers of the national government.
Fought over whether or not Maryland could tax the national bank branch in that state.
Solidified the idea of preemption and implied powers of Congress.
Why are federal grants in aid important? - (ANSWER)It's the cornerstone of the relationship between
national and state governments. Money between governments.
Categorical grants: money with strings attached, must be spent on certain things.
Block grants: money without strings attached.
Most grant in aid is heath and human services.
What are mandates? - (ANSWER)Federal mandates: orders the state or local governments to comply
with federal laws.
Funded- govt gives $
underfunded- partial $
