Levels of Government in the U.S.

Question 1

Federal Government

Answer 1

A federal government is a system of dividing up power between a central national government and local state governments that are connected to one another by the national government.

Question 2

block and categorial grants (government influence)

Answer 2

The federal government can and does influence state governments through block grants and categorical grants. These grants are large chunks of money that the national government gives to state governments in exchange for complying with federal requirements.

Question 3

block grant

Answer 3

In a fiscal federal form of government, a block grant is a large sum of money granted by the national government to a regional government with only general provisions as to the way it is to be spent, in contrast to a categorical grant, which has stricter and specific provisions on the way it is to be spent.

Question 4

categorial grants

Answer 4

Categorical grants, also called conditional grants, are grants issued by the United States Congress which may be spent only for narrowly defined purposes. They are the main source of federal aid to state and local governments and can be used only for specified categories of state and local spending like education or road developments. Categorical grants are intended to help states improve the overall well-being of their residents, though they do give leverage to the Federal Government.

Question 5

State Constitution (U.S.)

Answer 5

Each of the 50 states has a state government system run according to a state constitution. A state constitution is a document that lays down governmental structure, political processes, and limitations on the use of power by a state. Though states can organize their governments most any way they choose, all state governments use the same structure as the federal government.

Question 6

States (U.S.) - Executive Branch

Answer 6

Includes the governor of that state and other elected officials like the lieutenant governor, state attorney general, state auditor, and secretary of state.

Question 7

U.S. States (U.S.) - Legislative Branch

Answer 7

Includes the elected representatives of that state. Each state uses a bicameral system, meaning that they use two legislative chambers (with the exception of Nebraska, which has a unicameral legislature).

Question 8

U.S. States (U.S.) - Judicial Branch

Answer 8

Each state has a judicial branch made up of that state’s court system, including the state Supreme Court justices.

Question 9

Local Governments (U.S.)

Answer 9

Local government is the public administration of towns, cities, counties, and districts. Local government includes both county and municipal government structures.

Question 10

County Governments (U.S.)

Answer 10

County government is the public administration of a county, borough, or parish. County governments are the largest political subdivision within a state and mostly function to administer state laws. Elected officials head county governments. The highest-ranking county official is typically known as the county commissioner or county supervisor. Other common county officials include: County judges, county or district attorneys, county clerks, county treasurers, sheriffs, tax assessor-collectors, justices of the peace, constables, and county auditor. Each county has a county seat, which is a town that serves as the capital of that county.

Question 11

Municipal Government (U.S.)

Answer 11

Municipal government is the public administration of a township, village, borough, city, or town. Municipal governments run such services as: Parks and recreation, police, fire, housing services, emergency medical services, municipal courts, public transportation services, and public works.

Question 12

Municipal Ordinances (U.S.)

Answer 12

Municipalities have municipal ordinances, which are laws, rules, or regulations made and enforced by a city government. The ordinances are usually enacted by the city council and become a part of that city’s municipal code.

Question 13

Tribal Governments (U.S.)

Answer 13

A tribal government is the government of a federally recognized tribe of Native American people in the United States. A tribal government interacts with the federal government as a sovereign nation and has legal jurisdiction over its own land. The federal government is responsible for protecting the tribes and their properties as a whole, allowing them some legal power over the tribal government.

Question 14

Tribal Constitution (U.S.)

Answer 14

Tribal governments usually have a tribal constitution that organizes its structure. Many of these constitutions mirror the United States Constitution and organize the government into three branches, creating a separation of powers.

Question 15

Tribal Governments (U.S.) - Executive

Answer 15

The executive power is held by a Chief.

Question 16

Tribal Governments (U.S.) - Legislative

Answer 16

A Tribal Council holds the legislative power.

Question 17

Tribal Governments (U.S.) - Judicial

Answer 17

Some type of tribal court system is set up to handle judicial issues.

Question 18

Tribal Governments (U.S.) - Tribal Council and Tribal Chair

Answer 18

Some tribal constitutions require a government that consists of a Tribal Council, led by a Tribal Chair, that carries out all government duties - Executive, Legislative, and Judicial.

Question 19

U.S. Federalism - Dual federalism (1787-1930s)

Answer 19

Dual federalism (layer-cake federalism or divided sovereignty) means that the states have their responsibilities, and the national government has its responsibilities. It is largely based on the Tenth Amendment, which states that all powers not constitutionally given to the federal government are reserved to the states. The general consensus among scholars is that dual federalism ended during Franklin Roosevelt’s presidency in 1937 when the New Deal policies were decided constitutional by the Supreme Court.

Question 20

U.S. Federalism - Cooperative Federalism (1865-1960s)

Answer 20

In cooperative federalism (marble-cake federalism), federal and state government responsibilities are intertwined. The federal government and state governments cooperate, or work together, to provide services. This trend began after the Fourteenth Amendment was enacted at the end of the Civil War, which limited state powers and protected the basic rights of citizens. In the 1930s, the New Deal brought new federal legislation implementing several programs and policies geared toward reviving the economy, often through grants in aid and categorial grants.

Question 21

U.S. Federalism - Cooperative Federalism - Creative Federalism (1940s-1960s)

Answer 21

Creative federalism, a subset of Cooperative Federalism, favors the federal government by creating a dependency on the federal government. Because the states depended on federal financial grants, creative federalism weakened state powers and strengthened federal powers.

Question 22

U.S. Federalism - New Federalism (1970s-2000s)

Answer 22

New Federalism allows the states to reclaim some power while recognizing the federal government as the highest governmental power. It’s based on devolution, which is the transfer of certain powers from the federal government to the states. In this era block grants were created to give states more discression in how they could use federal funds. New Federalism is mostly associated with President Ronald Reagan’s years, from 1981 to 1989.

Question 23

U.S. Federalism - Progressive Federalism (2000s-2010s)

Answer 23

This type of federalism is a slight shift toward reclaiming some power for the federal government. E.g. 2001’s No Child Left Behind Act and 2010’s Affordable Health Care Act.