AP GOV UNIT 1 VOCABULARY

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.