AP Gov topic 1.8 - 1.9 vocab

Enumerated powers

Powers that Congress has that are listed in Article 1 Section 8 of the Constitution.

Commerce clause

Empowers Congress to regulate commerce with other nations and among the states.

Necessary and proper clause

Congress has the power to make laws to carry out actions that are essential for the good of the nation, but are not explicitly stated in the Constitution. Has to still be constitutional.

Tenth amendment

Any powers that are not specifically given to the federal government belong to the states (1791).

14th amendment

Promises US citizenship to anyone born or naturalized in the US (1868).

McCulloch v Maryland (1819)

A SCOTUS case addressing the balance of power between the states and the federal government.

Dual federalism

A system in which the national government is supreme in its sphere, and the states are equally supreme in their sphere.

Selective exclusiveness

A doctrine stating that congress may regulate intrastate commerce activity only when the commodity requires a national uniform rule.

United States v Lopez (1995)

A SCOTUS case ruling that congress did not have the authority under the commerce clause to outlaw guns in school zones.

Implied powers

Powers that congress has that are not listed in the constitution but are implied from the necessary and proper clause.

Clean air act

Called for improved air quality and decreased contaminants.

Clean water act

Regulates the discharge of pollutants into the waters of the US.

Endangered species act

Established a program that empowers the national fish and wildlife service to protect endangered species.

Kyoto protocol

A multi-country agreement that committed the signing nations to reduced greenhouse emissions, US was not involved.

Paris agreement

Another international climate agreement. The US withdrew, but some states, under the Tenth amendment, adhered to the guidelines.

Controlled substances act

Punished marijuana dealers and users, the first federal law to do so.