AP Government: Unit 3 Buzzwords

Federalism

Federalism

a system of government where power is shared between national government and the local governments (states)

Confederation

regional governments have the power

Unitary System

central government has the power

McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)

Necessary and Proper Clause allows congress to take actions that are essential to a power congress has. Affirmed the supremacy clause in article 6 because the states can not tax the federal government.

Gibbons v. Ogden (1824)

The commerce clause gives the national government the exclusive power to regulate interstate commerce.

United States v. Lopez (1995)

National government may not use the commerce clause to regulate matters that are not related to interstate commerce. Commerce Clause.

Delegated/Expressed/Enumerated powers

Powers given to the federal government

Reserved powers

powers saved for the state governments

Concurrent powers

powers shared between the states and federal level

Full Faith and Credit clause

that state courts respect the laws and judgments of courts from other states

Privileges and Immunities clause

this clause protects the fundamental rights of individual citizens and restrains state efforts to discriminate against out-of-state citizens

Extradition

ensures that accused persons get to face prosecution regardless of where they reside

Supremacy clause

conflicts between federal and state laws are resolved in favor of federal law when constitutional power has been given to the federal government

Dual federalism (Layer cake federalism)

US government is supreme in its sphere, the states are supreme in their sphere, and the two remain separate

Cooperative federalism (Marble cake federalism)

US states and government work together to carry out function

Categorical grants

money given for a specific purpose defined by federal laws

Block grants

grants given for a general purpose

Devolution

idea of returning the power to the states

Mandates

ruling a state must follow from the federal government (may be funded or unfunded)

Necessary and proper clause (Elastic clause)

to make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into Execution the foregoing Powers, and all other Powers vested by this Constitution in the Government of the United States, or in any Department or Officer thereof.

Nullification

idea that states can declare null and void a federal law that, in the states opinion, violates the Constitution (ruled unconstitutional by the Supreme Court)

Revenue sharing

money given that can be used for any government purpose

Waiver

permission to violate a law or rule

Express preemption

federal government uses laws to block/override state laws