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Bicameral legislature
two-house legislature.
Block grant
money granted by the federal government to the states for a broad purpose (e.g., transportation).
Categorical grant
money granted by the federal government to the states for a narrow purpose (e.g., school lunch program).
Centralists
those who favor greater national authority rather than state authority.
Checks and balances
system in which each branch of government can limit the power of the other two branches.
Commerce clause
gives Congress the power to regulate commerce among the states, with foreign nations, and among Indian tribes.
Concurrent powers
those held by both Congress and the states, e.g., establishing law enforcement agencies.
Confederation
system in which sovereign states are only loosely tied to a central government.
Decentralists
those who favor greater state authority rather than national authority.
Direct democracy
system in which the people rule themselves.
Elastic clause
states that Congress can exercise those powers that are "necessary and proper" for carrying out the enumerated powers.
Enumerated powers
those specifically granted to Congress in Article 1, section 8 of the Constitution.
Federalism
constitutional sharing of power between a central government and state governments.
Dual federalism
system in which the national government and state governments are coequal.
Cooperative federalism
system in which both federal and state governments cooperate in solving problems.
New Federalism
system in which the national government restores greater authority back to the states.
Federalist Papers
group of 85 essays written to persuade the people of New York to adopt the Constitution.
Formal amendment
a change in the actual wording of the Constitution.
Implied powers
those that are "necessary and proper" to carry out Congress's enumerated powers.
Indirect democracy
system in which the people are ruled by their representatives.
Inherent powers
foreign policy powers held by the national government by virtue of its being a national government.
Informal amendment
a change in the meaning, but not the wording, of the Constitution.
Judicial review
power of the courts to rule on the constitutionality of laws and government actions.
Mandates
requirements imposed by the national government upon the states.
Marbury v Madison
established the power of judicial review.
McCulloch v Maryland
established principle of national supremacy and validity of implied powers.
Police powers
powers of the states to protect the public health, safety, morals, and welfare of the public.
Popular sovereignty
principle in which ultimate political authority rests with the people.
Reserved powers
powers held by the states through the 10th Amendment.
Separation of powers
principle in which the powers of government are separated among three branches.
Shays' Rebellion
1786 revolt by Massachusetts farmers seeking relief from debt and foreclosure.
Supermajority
a majority greater than a simple majority of one over half.
Unicameral legislature
one-house legislature.
Note
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