AP U.S. Government & Politics: Unit 2 - Federalism & Constitutional Foundations

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering systems of government, trade-offs and eras of federalism, constitutional clauses, Article I limits, and essential landmark Supreme Court cases for AP U.S. Government & Politics Unit 2.

Federalism

A constitutional system dividing power between a central national government and regional state governments, allowing local control while preserving national unity.

Unitary System

A centralized system where ultimate authority rests entirely with the national government (e.g., UK, France), and regional offices only exercise delegated power.

Confederal System

An alliance of independent, sovereign states with a weak central body (e.g., U.S. under Articles of Confederation), where the national government lacks direct enforcement power.

Delegated Powers

Powers specifically granted to the federal government by the Constitution, divided into expressed, implied, and inherent powers.

Expressed Powers

Powers explicitly written in the Constitution under Article I, Section 8, such as declaring war, coining money, collecting taxes, and regulating interstate commerce.

Implied Powers

Powers not explicitly written in the Constitution, but reasonably inferred as necessary to carry out expressed powers based on the Necessary and Proper Clause (Article I, Section 8).

Inherent Powers

Powers that belong to the national government simply because it is a sovereign state in the global community (e.g., controlling borders, diplomatic recognition).

10th Amendment / Reserved Powers

Powers not delegated to the federal government, nor denied to the states, which are reserved to the states or to the people to protect state sovereignty.

Police Powers

State authority to enact legislation promoting public health, safety, morals, and general welfare (e.g., criminal law, education, licensing).

Concurrent Powers

Powers shared simultaneously by both national and state governments (e.g., taxation, building roads, establishing courts, borrowing money).

Laboratories of Democracy

An advantage of federalism where individual states can experiment with innovative policies before they are considered for national adoption.

Inequality & Inconsistency (Federalism)

A disadvantage of federalism wherein varying state laws create disparities in individual rights, public services, and educational quality across the country.

Local Representation (Federalism)

An advantage of federalism that keeps government closer to citizens, allowing laws and policies to be tailored to local preferences.

Jurisdictional Confusion (Federalism)

A disadvantage of federalism characterized by bureaucratic overlap, jurisdictional conflicts, and administrative inefficiency during national crises.

Prevents Tyranny (Federalism)

An advantage of federalism where a multi-tiered division of power prevents any single faction or branch from gaining total dominance.

Obstructing National Progress (Federalism)

A disadvantage of federalism where local or regional interest groups can block or stall the implementation of national civil rights mandates.

Elastic Clause

The Necessary and Proper Clause of Article I, Section 8, which authorizes Congress to pass all laws essential to execute its enumerated powers; serves as the primary basis for federal power expansion.

Commerce Clause

A provision in Article I, Section 8 granting Congress the power to regulate trade with foreign nations and among the states; the most heavily utilized clause to expand federal legislative authority.

Tax & Spend Clause

A provision in Article I, Section 8 empowering Congress to levy taxes and spend federal funds to provide for the common defense and general welfare.

Supremacy Clause

A provision in Article VI establishing the Constitution, federal statutes, and treaties as the supreme law of the land, overriding conflicting state laws or state constitutions.

Ex Post Facto Law

A retroactive law that criminalizes an action committed before it was illegal or increases the penalties for an existing infraction; expressly prohibited under Article I, Section 9 to ensure fairness.

Bill of Attainder

A legislative act declaring a specific person or group guilty of a crime and imposing punishment without a judicial trial; expressly forbidden under Article I, Section 9.

Habeas Corpus

A court order requiring authorities to bring a detained individual before a judge to demonstrate a valid legal basis for imprisonment, safeguarding citizens against arbitrary arrest.

Dual Federalism

The 'Layer Cake' model dominant from 1789 to the 1930s, in which state and national governments remain supreme within distinct, clearly separated spheres with no jurisdictional overlap.

Cooperative Federalism

The 'Marble Cake' model that began with the New Deal, where national and state governments share responsibilities, policy administration, and funding.

Devolution

A 'New Federalism' policy associated with the Reagan Era that returns regulatory authority and administrative power from the federal government back to state governments.

Federal Mandate

Directives, rules, or regulations issued by the federal government that states must follow, which can be either funded or unfunded (e.g., the Americans with Disabilities Act).

Fiscal Federalism

The financial pattern of federal spending, taxing, and providing grants (such as categorical vs. block grants) to influence state public policy priorities.

Competitive Federalism

Interstate competition where regional governments compete against one another to attract businesses, capital, and residents through varied tax incentives and public services.

Outline of the Constitution

The constitutional structure consisting of the Preamble (goals), 7 Articles (Legislative, Executive, Judicial, States, Amendments, Supremacy, Ratification), and 27 Amendments.

Formal Amendment vs. Informal Change

Formal change alters the written text of the Constitution ($2/3$ Congress + $3/4$ States), whereas informal change alters interpretation through judicial review, legislation, executive action, or custom.

McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)

Supreme Court case that applied the Necessary & Proper Clause and Supremacy Clause to uphold implied powers (creating a federal bank) and ruled that states cannot tax federal entities ('the power to tax involves the power to destroy').

Gibbons v. Ogden (1824)

Supreme Court case interpreting the Commerce Clause that broadened the definition of interstate commerce to include navigation and affirmed federal supremacy over interstate trade.

Heart of Atlanta Motel v. U.S. (1964)

Supreme Court ruling that upheld the Civil Rights Act's prohibition of racial discrimination in public accommodations via Congress's interstate commerce power under the Commerce Clause.

South Dakota v. Dole (1987)

Supreme Court case concerning the Tax & Spend Power and 21st Amendment, ruling that Congress may withhold federal highway funds as a spending power condition to incentivize states to raise their drinking age to 21.

U.S. v. Lopez (1995)

Supreme Court case concerning the Commerce Clause and the 10th Amendment that struck down the federal Gun-Free School Zones Act, curbing federal commerce power expansion in favor of state sovereignty.