Unit 2 Federalism Terms

Devolution

Devolution

The effort to transfer responsibility for many public programs and services from the federal government to the states.

Block Grants

money from the national government that states can spend within broad guidelines determined by the National Government

Dual Federalism

(1865-1933) A system of government in which both the states and the national government remain supreme within their own spheres, each responsible for some policies.

Federalism

government authority is shared by national and state gov'ts

Fiscal/Cooperative Federalism

federal and state governments work together to complete a project with the federal government picking up most of the cost

Unitary System

a government that gives all key powers to the national or central government (Ex. England or Japan)

Sovereignty

supreme or ultimate political authority

Confederation

a weak form of government where the states have more power than the national government

"Necessary and Proper" Clause (also called the 'Elastic Clause')

Article 1, Section 8 of the Constitution -- allows Congress to pass laws that it considers "necessary and proper" to its duties and makes it possible for Congress to use powers not specifically enumerated in the Constitution

Nullification

The doctrine that a state can declare null and void a federal law that, in the state's opinion, violates the Constitution.

Block Grants

large amounts of money given to the states with only general spending guidelines

Categorical Grants (sometimes called Project Grants)

federal grants for specific purposes like building an airport (gives more power to the nat'l gov't)

Revenue Sharing

Federal Sharing of a fixed percentage of Federal revenue with states (happens basically never - once under Nixon)

Conditions of Aid

Terms set by the national government that states must meet if they are to receive certain funds

Federal Mandates

Terms set by the National Government that states must meet no matter what

Unfunded Mandates

the states must meet the set terms using their own money

Full Faith and Credit

first words of Article IV, Section 1 of the Constitution, which requires states to respect the "public acts, records, and judicial proceedings" of all the other states.

Commerce Clause

the enumerated power found in Article 1, Section 8 of the Constitution allowing congress to regulate foreign, Indian and Interstate commerce

Supremacy Clause

establishes the Constitution, Treaties, and federal statutes as the supreme law of the land (Article VI, Paragraph 2 of the U.S. Constitution)

McCulloch v. Maryland

Supreme court ruled that Maryland couldn't tax a branch of the National bank in Baltimore and that it could be there. This extended the supremacy clause.

Enumerated Powers

powers given to congress in Article 1 Section 8 of the constitution

Reserved Powers

non-enumerated powers that are left to the states

10th amendment

states that non-enumerated powers are left to the states or people, creating federalism

Gibbons v. Ogden

Regulating interstate commerce is a power reserved to the federal government. (New York tried to regulate it by creating a waterway monopoly.

Selective Incorporation

when the "due process" clause of the Fourteenth Amendment is used to make certain (but not all) right in the Bill of Rights apply on the state and local level