Chapter 2 AP Gov Vocab

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

Federal law that prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities in employment, public services, public accommodations, and other areas.

Block Grants

Federal funds given to states for broad purposes, giving states flexibility in how they spend the money.

Brown v. Board of Education (1954)

Supreme Court case that ruled racial segregation in public schools was unconstitutional, overturning the idea of “separate but equal.”

Categorical Grants

Federal funds given to states or local governments for a specific purpose and with specific requirements.

Clean Air Act

Federal law that regulates air pollution and sets national standards for air quality.

Commerce Clause

Constitutional provision giving Congress the power to regulate interstate commerce, or economic activity between states.

Compact Theory

The idea that the Constitution is an agreement among the states, meaning states can challenge federal authority if the federal government violates the agreement.

Concurrent Powers

Powers shared by both the federal government and state governments, such as taxing and borrowing money.

Conditions of Aid / Strings

Requirements attached to federal funding that states must follow to receive the money.

Confederation

A system in which states have most of the political power and the central government has limited authority.

Cooperative Federalism

A system in which federal, state, and local governments work together to carry out policies, often called “marble-cake federalism.”

Delegated Powers

Powers given to the federal government by the Constitution.

Devolution

The transfer of power and responsibility from the federal government to state or local governments.

Dual Federalism

A system in which federal and state governments have separate and clearly defined areas of authority, often called “layer-cake federalism.”

Enumerated / Expressed Powers

Powers specifically listed in the Constitution and given to the federal government, such as Congress’s power to tax and declare war.

Extradition

The process of returning a person accused of a crime to the state where the crime was allegedly committed.

Federalism

A system of government in which power is divided between the national government and state governments.

Fiscal Federalism

The use of federal spending, grants, and funding to influence state and local government policies.

Full Faith and Credit Clause

The constitutional requirement that states recognize the public records, laws, and court decisions of other states.

Gibbons v. Ogden (1824)

Supreme Court case that strengthened federal power under the Commerce Clause by ruling that Congress could regulate interstate commerce.

United States v. Lopez (1995)

Supreme Court case that limited Congress’s Commerce Clause power by ruling that Congress could not use it to regulate guns near schools.

Implied Powers

Powers not directly written in the Constitution but considered necessary for the federal government to carry out its enumerated powers.

Inherent Powers

Powers the federal government has simply because it is a sovereign government, even though they are not specifically listed in the Constitution.

Mandates

Federal requirements that state or local governments must follow, sometimes with federal funding and sometimes without it.

McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)

Supreme Court case that established implied powers and confirmed federal supremacy by ruling that Maryland could not tax the national bank.

New Federalism

A policy approach that seeks to return more power and responsibility from the federal government to the states.

No Child Left Behind Act

Federal education law that required states to meet testing and accountability standards in exchange for federal education funding.

Nullification

The idea that a state can declare a federal law invalid if the state believes the federal government exceeded its constitutional authority.

Police Powers

Powers reserved to states to protect the health, safety, welfare, and morals of their citizens.

Privileges and Immunities Clause

Constitutional provision that prevents states from unfairly discriminating against citizens of other states.

Prohibited Powers

Powers that the Constitution denies to the federal government, states, or both. (TO AVOID TYRANNY)

Reserved Powers

Powers not given to the federal government and therefore reserved for the states or the people.

South Dakota v. Dole (1987)

Supreme Court case that upheld Congress’s ability to attach conditions to federal funding given to states, as long as the conditions are related to a legitimate federal purpose.

Strict Constructionist

A person who interprets the Constitution narrowly and believes the federal government should exercise only powers clearly granted by the Constitution.

Tenth Amendment

Amendment stating that powers not delegated to the federal government by the Constitution are reserved to the states or the people.

Unitary Government

A system in which the central government holds most political power and gives limited authority to lower levels of government.

Whiskey Rebellion

A 1794 uprising by farmers protesting a federal tax on whiskey. President George Washington used federal troops to enforce federal law, demonstrating the power of the new national government.