AP Government Federalism

Sixteenth Amendment

The constitutional amendment adopted in 1913 that explicitly permitted Congress to levy an income tax.

Seventeenth Amendment

allowed americans to vote directly for U.S senators

cooperative federalism

Cooperation among federal, state, &local govts; "marble cake" federalism

Weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation

very weak federal gov't, no power to tax,

National powers

controlling trade between states; creating army; coin and printing money; admiting new states; declaring war and peace; making laws for immagration

categorical grants

Federal grants that can be used only for specific purposes or "categories," of state and local spending. They come with strings attached, such as nondiscrimination provisions.

Concurrent powers

Powers for both the national and state governments, such as the power to levy taxes.

Great Society

1964, LBJ's policies of fighting poverty and racial injustice

State powers

Control public schools,Control local elections,Set up governments, Control trade in states, provide laws for safety,health, and welfare.

New Federalism

system in which the national government restores greater authority back to the states

Implied powers

powers that congress has that are not stated explicitly in the constitution

block grants

Money from the national government that states can spend within broad guidelines

Reserve powers

powers granted ONLY to the states

Ex post facto laws

A law which punishes people for a crime that was not a crime when it was committed. Congress cannot pass these laws.

devolution

The effort to transfer responsibility for many public programs and services from the federal government to the states.

"Full faith and credit" clause

Constitution's requirement that each state accept the public acts, records, and judicial proceedings of every other state

Supremacy clause

The constitutional provision that makes the Constitution and federal laws superior to all conflicting state and local laws.

US v. Lopez

The Court held that Congress had exceeded its commerce clause power by prohibiting guns in a school zone.

Commerce clause

The section of the Constitution in which Congress is given the power to regulate trade among the states and with foreign countries.

Dual federalism

A system of government in which both the states and the national government remain supreme within their own spheres, each responsible for some policies.

Federalism

government authority is shared by national and state gov'ts

Unitary System

a government that gives all key powers to the national or central government Ex. France

Sovereignty

supreme or ultimate political authority

Confederation

a weak form of government where the states have more power than the national government

"Necessary and Proper" Clause

allows Congress to pass laws "necessary and proper" to its duties and which has permitted Congress to use powers not specifically enumerated in the Constitution

Nullification

The doctrine that a state can declare null and void a federal law that, in the state's opinion, violates the Constitution.

Grants-in-aid

money given to the states by the national Government

Revenue Sharing

Federal Sharing of a fixed percentage of Federal revenue with states

Conditions of Aid

Terms set by the national government that states must meet if they are to receive certain funds

Mandates

Terms set by the National Government that states must meet no matter what

Unfunded Mandates

the states must meet the set terms using their own money

Funded Grants

the Feds provide some or all money necessary to carry out the set terms

Original Intent

A view that the constitution should be interpreted according to the original intent of the framers. Supported by conservatives and states rights people.

McCulloch v. Maryland

Supreme court ruled that Maryland couldn't tax a branch of the National bank in Baltimore and that it could be there. This extended the supremacy clause.

Enumerated Powers

powers given to congress in Article 1 Section 8 of the constitution

10th amendment

states that non-enumerated powers are left to the states or people, creating federalism

Gibbons v. Ogden

Regulating interstate commerce is a power reserved to the federal government. (New York tried to regulate it by creating a waterway monopoly.

Initiative

process that permits voters to put legislative measures directly on the ballot