AP Government Chapter 3 Review

federalism

A way of organizing a nation so that two or more levels of government have formal authority over the same land and people. It is a system of shared power between units of government.

unitary governments

A way of organizing a nation so that all power resides in the central government. Most national government today are these.

supremacy clause

Article VI of the Constitution, which makes the Constitution, national laws, and treaties supreme over state laws when the national government is acting within its constitutional limits.

Constitution's distribution of power

Power is distributed in 3 main branches - the legislative power gives Congress the power to ensure proper lawmaking. Executive power gives the president the power to delegate treaties, command armies, and have subordinate officers enforce the law. Lastly, Judicial powers decide disputes and interpret the U.S. constitution.

implied powers

Powers of the federal government that go beyond those enumerated in the Constitution. The Constitution states that Congress has the power to "make all laws neccessary and proper for carrying into execution" the powers enumerated in Article I.

McCulloch v. Maryland

An 1819 Supreme Court decision that established ther supremacy of the national government over state governments. In deciding this case, Chief Justice John Marshall and his colleagues held that Congress had certain implied powers in addition to the enumerated powers found in the Constitution.

enumerated powers

Powers of the federal government that are specifically addressed in the Constitution; for Congress, these powers are listed in Article I, Section 8, and include the power to coin money, regulate its value, and impose taxes.

elastic clause

The final paragraph of Article I, Section 8, of the Constitution, which authorizes Congress to pass all laws "neccessary and propwer" to carry out the enumerated powers.

Gibbons v. Ogden

A landmark case decided in 1824 in which the Supreme Court interpreted very broadly the clause in Article I, Section 8, of the Constitution giving Congress the power to regular interstate commerce, encompassing virtually every from of commercial activity.

full faith and credit

A clause in Article IV, Section 1, of the Constitution requiring each state to recognize the official documents and civil judgments rendered by the courts of other states.

extradition

A legal process whereby an alleged criminal offender is surrendered by the officials of one state to officials of the state in which the crime is alleged to have been committed.

privileges and immunities

A clause in Article IV, Section 2, of the Constitution according citizens of each state most of the privleges of citizens of other states.

dual federalism

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

cooperative federalism

A system of government in which powers and policy assignments are shared between states and the national government. They may also share costs, administration, and even blame for programs that work poorly.

categorical grants

Federal grants that can be used only for specific purposes or "categories," of state and local spending. They come with strings attached, such as nondiscrimination provisions. Compare to block grants.

project grants

Federal categorical grants given for specific purposes and awarded on the basis of the merits of applications.

formula grants

Federal categorical grants distributed according to a formula specified in legislation or in administrative regulations.

block grants

Federal grants given more or less automatically to state or communities to support broad programs in a areas such as community development and social services.

advantages/disadvantages of democracy

Advantages: Protects the interests of citizens, promotes equality, responsibility and stability in administration, helps make good citizens, and promotes change.

Disadvantages: Misuse of Time and Public Funds, Wrong Choices are made, Gives more emphasis on quantity instead of quality.

Still learning (2)

You've started learning these terms. Keep it up!