Explain the difference between categorical grants, block grants, general revenue sharing, and unfunded mandates.

Students' answers may vary.
Categorical grants are defined as federal monies available to state and local governments that require recipients to apply for funding under specific categories.The grants detail exactly how the money will be spent and is subject  to strict monitoring.Block grants are the consolidation of a number of related categorical grants into one larger grant that provides recipients with the ability to spend the money as they see fit within the broad purposes of the grant.General revenue sharing involves federal grants to states and localities without the stringent requirements associated with categorical grants.Unfunded mandates are laws passed by higher levels of government that force lower levels of government to spend more money without providing them with additional resources.