PSCI 3061 Midterm Exam Questions and Answers Already Passed
What does state politics scholar Virginia Gray argue? - Answers Virginia Gray argues that many
important political and policy differences observed across states can be explained by examining
underlying differences in demography and geography, meaning "demography is destiny" - Gray argues
that land, location, migration, occupation, the economy, and income structure a state's politics and
policies
How would you respond to Virginia Gray (part A)? - Answers I would respond that demography does
play a role in structuring state policy because demographic circumstances in certain states sometimes
requires action by state governments, and not all states have the same laws meaning laws are uniquely
tailored for each state by each state. For example West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Montana and Maine have
a larger 65+ year-old population than others, which means they'll face an increasing demand for benefits
and have a smaller labor force, and this population portion of demography obviously will have to be
addressed by the state government - IE demography or their circumstances will result in public policy
changes or outcomes in these states
How would you respond to Virginia Gray (part b)? - Answers However I do not believe state policy
outcomes are solely the result of demography, they are also the product of political choices by state
actors who choose to address and prioritize certain issues over others. In addition, state policy
outcomes are also influenced by the national government, such as when laws are passed on a state level
because of laws that were passed, or not passed, on a federal level, or when one party controls both
levels of government and pursues their agenda on both levels
How would you test Virginia Gray's hypothesis? - Answers You could test Virginia Gray's hypothesis by
examining each state's current policies and determining their relevance to the state's land, location,
migration, population and economy - assigning relevance scores to each policy could help you see if
there is a pattern or trend towards policies being based on demography (with a low score meaning state
policies are more general and a high score meaning state policies are more unique to state needs)
Where in the U.S. constitution is federalism established? - Answers The US constitution establishes
federalism in several different areas without explicitly using the word federalism - Article I (necessary
and proper clause, commerce clause), Tenth Amendment, Article IV (full faith and credit, privileges and
immunities), Article VI (supremacy clause)
How does Article I establish federalism? - Answers Article one formally delegates some powers primarily
or exclusively to the national government in the Necessary and Proper Clause and the Commerce Clause
What is the Necessary and Proper Clause? - Answers The necessary and proper clause gives Congress
the power "to make all laws necessary and proper" in carrying out their powers (elastic clause)
How does the Tenth Amendment establish federalism? - Answers The tenth amendment reserves the
other powers not delegated to Congress to the states "the powers not delegated to the United States by
the Constitution...are reserved to the states respectively, or to the people"
, How does Article IV establish federalism? - Answers Article four outlines the relationship between states
and between states and the federal government - full faith and credit clause and privileges and
immunities clause
What is the Full Faith and Credit Clause? - Answers The full faith and credit clause establishes that each
state is required to honor all other states and their laws
What is the Privileges and Immunities Clause? - Answers The Privileges and Immunities Clause
establishes that citizens of one state are entitled to the privileges and protection of other states
How does Article VI establish federalism? - Answers The Supremacy Clause in Article VI (clause 2)
establishes that the Constitution and federal laws are the supreme law of the land, meaning federal law
overrides state law when they conflict
What is the Commerce Clause? - Answers The commerce clause establishes the primary source of
authority for federal regulatory policy, giving Congress the power to regulate commerce with foreign
nations, among the states, and with Indian Tribes
Where is the Commerce Clause found? - Answers The commerce clause can be found in Article I, Section
8, clause 3 of the constitution
Why does the Commerce Clause raise controversy? - Answers The Commerce Clause raises controversy
because it is used to justify nearly all federal regulation and there is disagreement on what is truly
interstate and commerce
In regards to commerce clause controversy, what kinds of regulation has the commerce clause been
used to justify? - Answers The commerce clause is used to justify environmental regulation,
transportation safety, food and drug regulation, and labor rules
In regards to commerce clause controversy, how is the wording of the clause debated? - Answers The
debate over "interstate" is around which issues should be handled at the national level versus the state
level; the debate over "commerce" is around which issues should be regulated or what "commerce" is
What is an example of Commerce Clause controversy? - Answers An example of Commerce Clause
controversy is the competition between states and the federal government to develop regulations for
hydraulic fracturing; there is debate over whether there should be one set of national rules or flexibility
across states - hydraulic fracturing is a Commerce Clause issue because although there is local
extraction, formations span multiple states and waste and product is distributed across the US making it
interstate commerce
What is the focus of Article IV of the US Constitution? - Answers Article four outlines the relationship
between states, and between states and the federal government - there are 4 key issues of focus in
article four
What does state politics scholar Virginia Gray argue? - Answers Virginia Gray argues that many
important political and policy differences observed across states can be explained by examining
underlying differences in demography and geography, meaning "demography is destiny" - Gray argues
that land, location, migration, occupation, the economy, and income structure a state's politics and
policies
How would you respond to Virginia Gray (part A)? - Answers I would respond that demography does
play a role in structuring state policy because demographic circumstances in certain states sometimes
requires action by state governments, and not all states have the same laws meaning laws are uniquely
tailored for each state by each state. For example West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Montana and Maine have
a larger 65+ year-old population than others, which means they'll face an increasing demand for benefits
and have a smaller labor force, and this population portion of demography obviously will have to be
addressed by the state government - IE demography or their circumstances will result in public policy
changes or outcomes in these states
How would you respond to Virginia Gray (part b)? - Answers However I do not believe state policy
outcomes are solely the result of demography, they are also the product of political choices by state
actors who choose to address and prioritize certain issues over others. In addition, state policy
outcomes are also influenced by the national government, such as when laws are passed on a state level
because of laws that were passed, or not passed, on a federal level, or when one party controls both
levels of government and pursues their agenda on both levels
How would you test Virginia Gray's hypothesis? - Answers You could test Virginia Gray's hypothesis by
examining each state's current policies and determining their relevance to the state's land, location,
migration, population and economy - assigning relevance scores to each policy could help you see if
there is a pattern or trend towards policies being based on demography (with a low score meaning state
policies are more general and a high score meaning state policies are more unique to state needs)
Where in the U.S. constitution is federalism established? - Answers The US constitution establishes
federalism in several different areas without explicitly using the word federalism - Article I (necessary
and proper clause, commerce clause), Tenth Amendment, Article IV (full faith and credit, privileges and
immunities), Article VI (supremacy clause)
How does Article I establish federalism? - Answers Article one formally delegates some powers primarily
or exclusively to the national government in the Necessary and Proper Clause and the Commerce Clause
What is the Necessary and Proper Clause? - Answers The necessary and proper clause gives Congress
the power "to make all laws necessary and proper" in carrying out their powers (elastic clause)
How does the Tenth Amendment establish federalism? - Answers The tenth amendment reserves the
other powers not delegated to Congress to the states "the powers not delegated to the United States by
the Constitution...are reserved to the states respectively, or to the people"
, How does Article IV establish federalism? - Answers Article four outlines the relationship between states
and between states and the federal government - full faith and credit clause and privileges and
immunities clause
What is the Full Faith and Credit Clause? - Answers The full faith and credit clause establishes that each
state is required to honor all other states and their laws
What is the Privileges and Immunities Clause? - Answers The Privileges and Immunities Clause
establishes that citizens of one state are entitled to the privileges and protection of other states
How does Article VI establish federalism? - Answers The Supremacy Clause in Article VI (clause 2)
establishes that the Constitution and federal laws are the supreme law of the land, meaning federal law
overrides state law when they conflict
What is the Commerce Clause? - Answers The commerce clause establishes the primary source of
authority for federal regulatory policy, giving Congress the power to regulate commerce with foreign
nations, among the states, and with Indian Tribes
Where is the Commerce Clause found? - Answers The commerce clause can be found in Article I, Section
8, clause 3 of the constitution
Why does the Commerce Clause raise controversy? - Answers The Commerce Clause raises controversy
because it is used to justify nearly all federal regulation and there is disagreement on what is truly
interstate and commerce
In regards to commerce clause controversy, what kinds of regulation has the commerce clause been
used to justify? - Answers The commerce clause is used to justify environmental regulation,
transportation safety, food and drug regulation, and labor rules
In regards to commerce clause controversy, how is the wording of the clause debated? - Answers The
debate over "interstate" is around which issues should be handled at the national level versus the state
level; the debate over "commerce" is around which issues should be regulated or what "commerce" is
What is an example of Commerce Clause controversy? - Answers An example of Commerce Clause
controversy is the competition between states and the federal government to develop regulations for
hydraulic fracturing; there is debate over whether there should be one set of national rules or flexibility
across states - hydraulic fracturing is a Commerce Clause issue because although there is local
extraction, formations span multiple states and waste and product is distributed across the US making it
interstate commerce
What is the focus of Article IV of the US Constitution? - Answers Article four outlines the relationship
between states, and between states and the federal government - there are 4 key issues of focus in
article four
