Unit I. Foundations of American Democracy PART 2

AP GOV

Congress

The bicameral (two chambers- House of Representatives and Senate) legislature of the United States

President

The person in charge of the Executive branch of government who carries out the laws

Federal Judiciary

The three-tiered court system (district court, court of appeals, and Supreme Court) of the national government

Checks and balances

A governmental structure that gives each of the three branches of government some degree of oversight and control over the actions of others

Separation of powers

The founding fathers divided the government into three branches [legislative (divided further into House of Representatives and Senate), Executive, and Judicial] so that no one branch can have too much power

Concurrent powers

Powers shared by the national government and the state government such as the ability to tax

Federal revenue sharing

A federal program that lasted from 1972 to 1986 that sent money to use as each government saw fit

Mandate

A requirement that a state undertake an activity or provide a service because the national government says it must. Many times the national government provides money to the states to accomplish the activity (there might be financial penalties for not complying)

Categorical grants

Grants given for a very specific purpose; given to states and local governments from the national government

Block grants

Broad grants (outlays of money) with few strings attached; given to states and local governments from the national government for broad categories such as education and transportation

Tenth Amendment

Powers not given to the federal government (national government) or denied to the states, are reserved to the states

Fourteenth Amendment

All persons born or naturalized in the U.S. are citizens of the U.S. and the state they live in; No state shall limit a citizens privileges and immunities of citizenships; No state shall deprive a person of life, liberty, or property without due process of law; No state shall deny a person equal protection of the laws

Commerce clause

The third clause of Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution, which gives Congress the power to regulate commerce among the states. This clause has been cited many times by the Supreme Court to uphold laws enacted by Congress

Necessary and proper clause

Article I, Section 8, Clause 18 states that Congress shall have the power to make all laws “necessary and proper” for carrying out their enumerated powers; also called the elastic clause

Enumerated/expressed powers

Powers of legislative, executive, and judicial branches that are especially spelled out in the constitution

Implied powers

Powers derived from the enumerated powers and the necessary and proper clause. These powers are not stated in the constitution specifically but are considered to be reasonably implied through the exercise of delegated powers

Policy making

The crafting of proposed ways to resolve public problems