Federalism AP Gov Test

federalism

way of organizing a gov so there is 2 or more levels (national, state, local) all shared power

supremacy clause

article VI, us constitution, laws of Congress, treaties

extradition

if you commit a crime in one state, you get returned to receive punishment

dual federalism 

a system of gov in which both the states and the national gov remain supreme within their own spheres (layer cake) 

cooperative federalism

the gov has lots of shared powers and policy assignments are shared between states and national gov, shared costs, states follow federal guidelines, marble cake

fiscal federalism

the pattern of spending, taxing, and providing grants in the federal system, cornerstone of national government 

revenue sharing 

fed gov sharing a fixed % of revenue with states

TANF

temporary assistance for needy families, block grant, wellfare

preemption

federal law will win when argument between states, supremacy clause, part of coercive federalism

political participation

multiple access points for people to get involved

labratories of democracy 

states can be policy innovators and other states can borrow what works 

unitary

national gov —> states: authority is concentrated in central gov

confederation

states —> Nat gov: authority is concentrated in states

full faith and credit clause

requires states to accept court decisions, public acts, contracts of other states (DOMA< article 4 section 1)

privileges & immunities clause

comity clause, asserts that states are prohibited from discrimination against out of staters by denying them of rights 

doctrine of nullification

states had the right to reject “unconstitutional” national laws

new federalism

decentralization of policies enhances admin. efficiency

devolution

the returning of authority to states, block grants

McCulloch vs. Maryland

States wanted to tax national ban, Constitutional: necessary & proper clause enumerated powers, supremacy clause 

US vs. Lopez

Texas student brought gun to school, violating federal law, exceeding power?, Constitutional: commerce clause, 10th ammendment (states rights)

commerce clause

congress can deal with trade (foreign nations, states, Indian tribes) 

grants

used to influence state actions, used to be land but now is mostly cash

block grants

come with less federal administration conditions and provide more flexibility over funds,broad 

• workforce investment act

• surface transportation act 

categorical grants

federal transfers formulated to limit recipients discretion in fund usage and subject them to strict criteria, strings attached

• medicaid

• food stamp program 

unfunded mandates

federal laws and regulations that impose obligations with out compensation

coercive federalism

a period of federalism marked by a significant increase in fed gov power in relation to states power 

Benefits of federalism

• promotes policy innovation and political participation

• accommodates diversity of opinion

• 2 levels allow for one level to disagree, but the other opinion can cancel it out 

Drawbacks of federalism

• race to the bottom dynamics: states compete to attract business by lowering taxes 

• economical differences 

• jeopardizing of federal responses to important national issues

• some states are just better than others 

enumerated powers

powers specifically listed in the constitution that belong to federal government

concurrent powers

powers shared by the federal and state governments