Political Science Unit

federalism

a system of government in which a written constitution divides power between a central, or national government ( derived all power from the people)

division of powers

Basic principle of federalism; the constitutional provisions by which governmental powers are divided on a geographic basis (in the U.S, between the National Government & U.S

delegated powers

those powers, expressed, implied, or inherent, granted to the National Government by the Constitution

expressed power (enumerated power)

those delegated powers of the National gov that spelled out, expressly, in the Constitution

implied power

those delegated powers of the National Government that are suggested by the expressed powers set out in the Constitution; those “necessary & powers” to carry out the expressed powers

inherent powers

powers the Constitution is presumed to have delegated to the National Gov b/c it is the gov of a sovereign state w/in the world community

reserved power

those powers that the Constitution does not grant to the National Gov and does not deny to the States

exclusive powers

those powers which can be exercised by the National Gov alone

concurrent powers

those powers that both the National Gov & the states possess & exercise

block grant

one type of federal grant-in-aid for a particular but broadly defined area of public policy

categorical grant

-one type of federal grants-in-aid; made for some specific, closely defined purpose

dual federalism

-a system where the national & state gov have separate, defined powers

-” Layered cake federalism”

-Strengthened by the 10th Amendment: power not given to the national govs is reserved to the states or the people

cooperative federalism

-a system where national & state gov work together to solve problem

-”marble cake federalism” 

-relied on categorical grants

supremacy clause

-a provision of the U.S. Constitution that states that the Constitution, federal law, & treaties of the U.S are the “supreme Law of the Land”

necessary and proper clause

-the final clause of Article 1, section 8 in the Constitution, which gives Congress the power to make all laws “necessary and proper” for executing its powers