federalism test

what is a mandate

a requirement that a state undertake an activity or provide a service with no associated funds

mandate examples

civil rights act, Americans with disabilities act, clean air act.

difference between categorical grant and block grant?

categorical is for specific purposes while block is devoted to general purposes with few restrictions.

how does federalism create laboratories of democracy

distributing the power between federal and state allowing state to experiment with different policies.

reserved powers

given to states exclusively

concurrent powers

shared by both national and state government

delegated powers/ enumerated powers

given to the national government exclusively

what was the holding in US vs lopez

Gun-Free School Zones act was unconstitutional because it exceeded congress's power under commerce clause. possession of gun is not an economic activity.

what were the holdings of McCulloch vs Maryland

congress could charter a national bank under necessary and proper clause. states couldn't tax the bank under supremacy clause.

what does the tenth amendment do?

reserves powers not delegated to federal to be given to states exclusively.

what is revenue sharing?

money given to the states by the national government that can be spent on almost any government purpose

how is revenue sharing different than grants in aid

revenue sharing is the distribution of federal tax money to governments with less restrictions than grant in aid.

what does the necessary and proper clause do

it is impossible to predict all powers congress will need so sometimes we might have to allow congress extra powers to preform there duties.

what does the supremacy clause do

federal law takes precedence over state laws

how do unfunded mandates work

it is when the federal government requires a lower government to take specific action without providing funds.

what makes unfunded mandates unpopular for states

they impose a financial burden and creates pressure for tax increase or service cuts.

what was the great compromise

a bicameral legislature in which the house is apportioned according to state population and senate has 2 members from each state

Elite Theory

groups or people who possess the most power (money or influence) dominate government

Pluralist theories

groups compete and compromise with each other to get the government to do what they want

the difference between elite and pluralist theories

elite theory is around a small amount of people where the pluralist is around many different competing groups.

what is majoritarian democracy

the will or desires of the majority of the population are the prime considerations of the government

where do you see evidence of majoritarian democracy in the constitution

the house of representatives, we the people, majority vote in senate and congress