ap gov flashcards

Federalism

Government comprised of two or more levels

Supremacy Clause

federal law is supreme law of land

Tenth Amendment

if a power is not listed for Federal Gov the power goes to the states

McCullough v Maryland

Natl gov had the right to build Natl Bank, Maryland cannot tax

Enumerated powers

powers written specifically in the constitution

Implied powers

not directly written in Const

Elastic Clause

makes the constitution more broad, allows implied powers

Dual federalism

where state & natl govs work separately

Co op Federalism

State & natl govs work together

Devolution

Transfers or delegate powers of gov from center to local (ie Natl to State)

Categorical Grants

Grant with strict limitations on how its used

Block Grants

Grant used for anything

incumbent

the official who holds an office

casework

Activities of members of congress that help constituents as indiviuals

Pork barrel

the use of government funds for projects designed to please voters or legislators and win votes.

House rules committees

reviews all bills from committees

Filibuster

obstruct deliberately by delaying

Speacker of house

controls items on a calendar and what gets addressed

Majority leader

leader of the majority party in a legislature, sets agenda

Whips

Keeps party members in line for votes

Minority leader

leader of the minority party in a legislature, can call meetings

Standing committees

focuses on legislation in one area

Conference committee

formed to resolve differences btwn house and senate

Legislative oversight

the review, monitoring, and supervision of federal agencies

Committee chair

member of congress responsible for running a committee

bill

a form of draft presented to legislature

Participatory Democracy

Direct voting on laws, etc...

Pluralist Theory

Interest groups controlling the government

Elite Theory

Only top rich % of people control gov

declaration of independence

the document recording the proclamation of the second Continental Congress asserting the independence of the Colonies from Great Britain

Natural rights

Unalienable rights that everyone are born with

social contract

an implicit agreement among people that results in the organization of society; individual surrenders liberty in return for protection

Popular Sovereignty

a doctrine in political theory that government is created by and subject to the will of the people

Limited Government

A government with limited power and many checks