PUP3002 module F

federalism

a hybrid arrangement that mixed elements of a confederation, in which lower-level governments possess primary authority, and unitary government

unitary government

the national government monopolizes constitutional authority

dual federalism

leaving the states and the national government to preside over mutually exclusive “spheres of sovereignty”

shared federalism

recognizes that the national and state governments jointly supply services to the citizenry

nationalization

shifting the “indefinite” authority assigned to state governments to the national side

elastic clause

allows congress to make “all laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into execution the foregoing powers.” (of the constitution)

enumerated powers

specific authority that would enable the government to address problems the states had not grappled with effectively under the AoC

tenth amendment

“the powers not delegated to the US by the constitution, nor prohibited to it by the states, are reserved to the states respectively, or to the people.”

common core

a national developed set of rigorous national standards in education to give clear guidance to teachers across the nation in what colleges and employers expected from high school students

externality

an effect felt by more people than just the ones who chose to cause it.

cutthroat competition

the result of delegation of powers to the state where states are in competition with each other to provide the best service/get the best result 

race to the bottom

cutting back on services that benefit low income people so that the state will not become a “welfare magnet” that attracts low-income residents

preemption legislation

federal laws that assert the national government’s prerogative to control public policy in a particular field

grants-in-aid

programs that provide money to a state for a specific purpose

block grant 

federal government gives each state or local government an exact amount of money to spend for some purpose. states have an incentive to control their costs below the level of the block grant and s discentive to spend above it. 

matching grant

the federal government promises to provide matching funds, usually between 1 and 4 dollars, for every dollar that a state spends in some area