Question

"Why is the local issue of repairing roads connected to state and national repair of roads? (Multiple answers)

A. People often travel from different states or cities and use these local roads.
B. The Constitution contains the commerce clause, giving Congress the authority over all roads.
C. The Supreme Court has ruled that repairing local roads is the responsibility of state legislatures.
D. Funding is a local, state, and national problem.

Answer 1

Local road repairs are related to state and national road maintenance because of the interstate commerce, shared responsibilities across government levels, and historical precedents concerning federal funding powers and constitutional discussions. Choices A and D directly address shared usage across borders and the multi-tiered funding challenges. While B and C contain partial truths, they are not as directly related to the constitutional nuances or Supreme Court rulings on the issue.

Step-by-step explanation:

The reason local issues of repairing roads are connected to state and national repair of roads can be explained by various factors:

1. Interstate Commerce: The commerce clause in the Constitution grants Congress the power to regulate interstate commerce, which includes the ability to address road repairs that affect business activities across state lines.
2. Shared Responsibility: Road maintenance is a shared responsibility between local, state, and national governments. Each level can collect taxes and allocate funding for transportation infrastructure, reflecting the concurrent powers of these governmental layers.
3. Historical Precedents: Historically, debates over federal support for internal improvements, such as roads, have illustrated the complexities of funding and the desire for constitutional amendments to clarify federal powers.

To answer the specific options given in the question:

• A. People often travel from different states or cities and use these local roads, connecting local road maintenance to a wider network that requires coordination and funding from various levels of government.
• B. While the Constitution gives Congress authority over interstate commerce, it does not contain a clause giving Congress authority over all roads. However, Congress's power can influence road repairs that impact interstate commerce.
• C. The Supreme Court has not specifically ruled that repairing local roads is the responsibility of state legislatures, but it has broadly interpreted Congress's power to regulate interstate commerce, which can include road maintenance.
• D. Funding indeed involves local, state, and national concerns. All levels of government can collect taxes and allocate financial resources to road repairs as part of their fiscal budgets.