AP Gov unit 1 terms

block grant

set amount of money from the federal government to support broad purpose programs

categorical grant

Federal funding given for a specific, narrowly defined purpose

checks and balances

system which an organization of system is regulated, ensuring that political power is not concentrated in hands of individual or groups

concurrent powers

governmental authorities shared by both the national government and state government

cooperative powers

where fed, state, and local governments share power and work together to address common problems “marble cake federalism”

devolution

The transfer of power to a lower level

direct democracy

citizens directly decide policy’s w/o elected representatives

dual federalism

federal and state gov’s are separate, sovereign entities with distinct spheres of power

elitism

The advocacy of existence of an elite as a dominating element in a system of society

enumerated powers

specific powers granted to the federal government, primarily Congress by article 8 sec 1

ex post facto law

Law that criminalizes a past action that was legal to commit. illegal in US

federalism

a system of government that divides power between a central national government and regional governments like state/ provinces

Federalist Papers

A collection of 85 essay to persuade the citizens of NY to ratify the US constitution

fiscal federalism

Theory of dividing public sector functions and finances between different levels of government, such as federal, state, local.

Full faith and credit clause

requires states to respect public acts, records, and judicial proceedings of every other state

Gibbons v Ogden

Gives Congress broad power to regulate any commerce across state lines

Great compromise

established the bicameral congress to apply to population and state power

implied powers

authorities not explicitly given to the Congress in the constitution but are deemed necessary to carry out the governments express or enumerated powers

judicial review

power of courts to review legislative, executive, and administrative actions to determine constitutionality

limited government

The principle that a government’s power comes from the people and scope are restricted by law, typically a written constitution.

McCulloch v Maryland

Fed power over states and established implied powers

natural rights

Fundamental, inherent rights the all humans possess. Life liberty, property. Enlightenment philosophy

New Jersey plan

Proposition Equal representation for all states in unicameral legislature

pluralism

diverse groups with competing interests influence and shape government policies

popular sovereignty

principle that a governments authority course of the people

privileges and immunities clause

Prohibits states from discriminating against out-of-state citizens and requires them to grant citizens of other states the same fundamental rights as their residents

republicanism

Ideology centered on concept of pop sovereignty

reserved powers

political powers that a constitution hold explicitly for a specific political authority

separation of powers

Montesque divides state authority into distinct branches

shay’s rebellion

exposed the significant weakness of of the central government established by the articles of confederation

social contract

agreement among members of society to cooperate for social benefits by sacrificing some individual freedoms for protection

Supremacy Clause (Article 6)

Fed Gov: Constitution, federal laws, treaties ares supreme law of the land

Three-Fifths Compromise

Compromise with the south that africans are worth 3/5th taxation/legaislativly

unfunded mandate

Requires actions or expenditure without funding authority power

US v Lopez

Established limits on congress’s power under commerce clause

Virginia Plan

Population based bicameral system