Key Concepts in Federalism and U.S. Constitutional Amendments

10th Amendment

reserves powers not delegated to the federal government to the states or the people.

14th Amendment

guarantees equal protection and due process under the law to all citizens and limits states' power to infringe on individual rights.

Block Grants

federal funds given to states with broad guidelines on how to spend them.

Categorical Grants

federal funds given to states for a specific purpose with strict requirements.

Coercive Federalism

a system where the federal government pressures states to follow national policies through regulations and mandates.

Commerce Clause

gives Congress the power to regulate trade among states and with foreign nations.

Competitive Federalism

a system where states compete to attract businesses and residents by offering better policies or lower taxes.

Concurrent Power

powers shared by both federal and state governments (e.g., taxing, law enforcement).

Confederal Government

a system where states hold most of the power and the national government has limited authority.

Cons about Federalism

can lead to inequality between states, confusion about responsibility, and conflict between state and federal laws.

Cooperative Federalism

a system where the national and state governments work together to solve problems (often linked to the New Deal era).

Denied Powers

powers explicitly prohibited to either the federal or state governments by the Constitution.

Dred Scott v. Sandford

Supreme Court case (1857) that ruled African Americans were not citizens and that Congress couldn't ban slavery in territories.

Dual Federalism

a system where state and federal governments operate independently within their own areas of authority ("layer cake" federalism).

Evolution of Federalism

the shift over time from dual to cooperative to new federalism as power balance changed between states and the federal government.

Ex Post Facto

a law that criminalizes actions retroactively, which the Constitution forbids.

Exclusive Power

powers that only the federal government can exercise (e.g., coining money, declaring war).

Federal Preemption

when federal law overrides or takes precedence over state laws.

Federalism

a system of government where power is divided between national and state governments.

Fiscal Federalism

how the federal government uses money (grants, aid) to influence state policies.

Formula Grant

federal funds distributed based on a specific formula (e.g., population, income).

Full Faith and Credit Clause

requires states to recognize public acts, records, and judicial decisions of other states.

Good Things about Federalism

encourages innovation, increases political participation, and allows policies to fit local needs.

Intergovernmental Organizations

bodies made up of national, state, and local governments to coordinate policies (e.g., U.S. Conference of Mayors).

Marshall Court

Supreme Court under Chief Justice John Marshall that strengthened the power of the federal government (e.g., McCulloch v. Maryland).

McCulloch v. Maryland

Supreme Court case (1819) that upheld federal supremacy and the implied powers under the Necessary and Proper Clause.

New Federalism

an approach that returns power to the states, emphasizing decentralization (popular under Nixon and Reagan).

Nullification

the theory that states can invalidate federal laws they deem unconstitutional (rejected after the Civil War).

Picket Fence Federalism

a model where specific policy areas (like education or health) link different levels of government through shared programs.

Police Power

the authority of states to regulate behavior and enforce order for public health, safety, and welfare.

Powers Given to Different Levels of Government

division of authority where federal, state, and local governments have distinct and shared powers.

Privileges and Immunities Clause

prevents states from discriminating against citizens of other states.

Remedial Legislation

laws passed by Congress to correct or prevent violations of constitutional rights (especially under the 14th Amendment).

Revenue Sharing

federal funds distributed to states with no restrictions on how they can be used (popular in the 1970s).

Sovereign Power

the ultimate authority to govern within a territory.

Spillover Effects

when policies in one state affect neighboring states (e.g., pollution, migration).

State's Rights and State Power

the belief that states should have strong, independent authority free from excessive federal control.

Unfunded Mandates

federal requirements imposed on states without providing money to cover the costs.

Unitary Government

a system where all power is held by a central authority and local governments act only as its agents.