Answer:
a) The states having the power to make money, holding almost all the power in the government, issuing taxes and regulating domestic and foreign trade was characteristic of the Articles of Confederation era (states had more power); but under the Constitution, is the government which held most of the power such as for issuing taxes, the creation of money and trade regulation.
b) The Commerce clause was the responsible item for providing the federal government power to regulate trade and create money, thus expanding its power due to many disputes generated between states regarding trade deals under the Articles of Confederation.
c) Block grants are allocations of money (or subventions) from the Federal Government to the states, providing some sort of independence to the states to operate within. And according to the 10th Amendment, The Supreme Court inhibits and restrain the power that is conferred to the federal government, giving more power to the states to make decisions.
