poli

dual federalism

The system of government that prevailed in the United States from 1789 to 1937 in which most fundamental governmental powers were shared between the federal and state governments.

commerce clause

Article I, Section 8, of the Constitution, which delegates to Congress the power to regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, among the several States, and with the Indian Tribes this clause was interpreted by the Supreme Court in favor of national power over the economy

grants-in-aid

Programs through which Congress provides money to state and local governments on the condition that the funds be employed for purposes defined by the federal government.

categorical grants

Congressional grants given to states and localities on the condition that expenditures be limited to a problem or group specified by law.

cooperative federalism

A type of federalism existing since the New Deal era in which grants-in-aid have been used to encourage states and localities to pursue nationally defined goals also known as intergovernmental cooperation

regulated federalism

A form of federalism in which Congress imposes legislation on states and localities, requiring them to meet national standards.

preemption

The principle that allows the national government to override state or local actions in certain policy areas; in foreign policy, the willingness to strike first in order to prevent an enemy attack

federalism

A system of government in which power is divided between a central government and regional governments.

unitary system

A centralized government system in which lower levels of government have little power independent of the national government.

intergovernmental relations

The processes by which the three levels of American government negotiate and compromise over policy responsibility.

expressed powers

Specific powers granted by the Constitution to Congress (Article I, Section 8) and to the president (Article II)

implied powers

powers derived from the necessary and proper clause of Article I, Section 8, of the Constitution; such powers are not specifically expressed but are implied through the expansive interpretation of delegated powers

necessary and proper clause

Article I, Section 8, of the Constitution, which provides Congress with the authority to make all laws “necessary and proper” to carry out its expressed powers

reserved powers

Powers derived from the Tenth Amendment that are not specifically delegated to the national government or denied to the states.

police power

Power reserved to the state government to regulate the health, safety, and morals of its citizens.

concurrent powers

Authority possessed by both state and national governments, such as the power to levy taxes.

full faith and credit clause

provision from Article IV, Section 1, of the Constitution requiring that

states' rights

The principle that the states should oppose the increasing authority of the national government this principle was most popular in the period before the Civil War

devolution

A policy to remove a program from one level of government by delegating it to a lower level of government or passing it down to a lower level of government, such as from the national government to the state and local governments

block grants

Federal grants-in-aid that allow states considerable discretion in how the funds are spent.

New Federalism

Attempts by Presidents Nixon and Reagan to return power to the states through block grants.

general revenue sharing

The process by which one unit of government yields a portion of its tax income to another unit of government,according to an established

formula; revenue sharing typically involves the national government

providing money to state governments

unfunded mandate

A law or regulation requiring a state or local government to perform certain actions without providing funding for fulfilling the requirement.