QQuestionPolitical Science
QuestionPolitical Science
"What is the key difference between categorical grants and block grants?
A. Categorical grants lack any true congressional oversight, while block grants require a lot of congressional oversight.
B. Categorical grants are reflective of the dual federalism era, and block grants reflect the cooperative federalism era.
C. Block grants provide states with more leverage and power over how to spend grants-in-aid than do categorical grants.
D. Block grants can be spent on any policy issue, no matter what Congress allocated the money for."
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Answer
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Step 1: Identify the main difference between categorical grants and block grants.
Categorical grants are funds provided by the federal government to state and local governments for specific purposes and programs. These grants come with strict guidelines and regulations about how the money should be used, and they require regular reporting to ensure compliance. On the other hand, block grants are also funds provided by the federal government to state and local governments but with more flexibility in how they can be used. Block grants usually cover broad topic areas, and states have greater discretion in determining how to allocate the funds within those areas.
Step 2: Analyze the given answer choices.
A) Categorical grants lack any true congressional oversight, while block grants require a lot of congressional oversight. This statement is partially correct. Categorical grants do require reporting and compliance checks, but block grants also require oversight to ensure they are being used within the broad topic area. B) Categorical grants are reflective of the dual federalism era, and block grants reflect the cooperative federalism era. This statement is not directly related to the key difference between the two types of grants but instead refers to the historical context in which they emerged. C) Block grants provide states with more leverage and power over how to spend grants-in-aid than do categorical grants. This statement correctly identifies the key difference between the two types of grants. Block grants offer more flexibility and discretion to states in allocating funds, while categorical grants have stricter guidelines and regulations. D) Block grants can be spent on any policy issue, no matter what Congress allocated the money for. This statement is incorrect. Block grants still have boundaries regarding how they can be used, even though they offer more flexibility than categorical grants.
Final Answer
The key difference between categorical grants and block grants is that block grants provide states with more leverage and power over how to spend grants-in-aid than do categorical grants.
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