Whats the difference between block and categorical grants?

Block grants: Money given for a fairly broad purpose with few strings attached. Categorical grants: Money given for a specific purpose that comes with restrictions concerning how the money should be spent.

What is an example of a categorical grant?

Examples of Categorical Grants Anti-poverty programs, such as Medicaid and Head Start, are categorical grants. Likewise, the national drinking age is a result of a categorical grant. In order for states to receive federal-highway-funding money, all states have to make 21 years of age the official age to drink.

What is the meaning of block grants?

Block grants are awarded by the Federal government to state and local governments for broadly defined purposes — for example, social services or community development. Block grants are given primarily to general purpose governmental units in accordance with a statutory formula.

How do block grants differ from categorical grants and which would be preferred by states rights advocates?

Categorical grants are the main source of federal aid used for one specific purpose with strings attached. What are categorical grants? Block grants are given to states or communities and they decide how to spend the money.

What is the difference between block grants and categorical grants quizlet?

What is the difference between categorical grants and block grants? A categorical grant is when money is given by Congress for a specific purpose. A block grant is money given to a state for a broad category like secondary education or health services.

What is the key difference between categorical grants and block grants quizlet?

What is the key difference between categorical grants and block grants? Categorical grants provide very detailed instructions, regulations, and compliance requirements for the states, while block grants provide states with more leverage and power over how to spend the grant money.

What are categorical funds?

Funds from the state or federal government granted to qualifying schools or districts for specific children with special needs, certain programs, or special purposes such as transportation. In general, schools or districts must spend the money for the specific purpose.

What are advantages and disadvantages of block grants?

Welfare is used to help support low income families and the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Block Grant is assistance to low-income families to help pay energy bills. The advantage of block grants is that it is less restrictive, but a disadvantage could be the use of the money ineffectively.

Do states prefer categorical grants or block grants?

States prefer categorical grants to block grants. Categorical grants are more restricted than block grants. States, therefore, prefer block grants. Implied powers are not expressly stated in the Constitution, but they have been used to expand the size of the federal government.

Why are block grants better?

Block grants address broader purposes, are distributed by formula, allow greater flexibility in the use of the funds, and have fewer administration conditions than categorical grants.