State courts can strike down state laws that conflict with their state constitution, but decisions of state and local courts must conform to the United States Constitution as interpreted by the Supreme Court

What is the etymology of the word "gerrymandering"?

A. It comes from an odd-shaped district (that resembled a salamander) in Massachusetts, redrawn when the governor's name was Gerry. B. It comes from a Creole word (from Louisiana) that means pandering to a particular group of people. C. It comes from an eighteenth-century slang term for an unpopular mandate, pioneered by an unscrupulous politician in South Carolina, named Gerry Sartain. D. It comes from an old British sailors' term that meant being unfairly treated by a ship's captain. E. It comes from the Greek word meaning mystery and was used in military oaths of pagans.

Local governments tend to focus on__________; state governments tend to focus on _________; and the federal government tends to focus on __________.

a. human rights; tax collection; defense b. public protection; national security; goods and services c. informing the public; taxes; national security d. goods and services; being the intermediary; national defense and the transfer function