Chapter 3 US Gov

Federalism

A political system where power is divided between a central government and multiple state governments.

Enumerated Powers

Specific powers granted to the national government listed in the U.S Constitution, such as coining money and maintaining a navy.

Elastic Clause

Allows the federal government to expand its powers beyond the enumerated ones if necessary and proper.

Supremacy Clause

Establishes that federal laws and the Constitution take precedence over state laws and constitutions.

Reserved Powers Clause

Stated in the Tenth Amendment, it reserves powers not delegated to the federal government to the states or the people.

Concurrent Powers

Powers shared by both the federal and state governments, like establishing court systems.

Prohibited Powers

Powers denied to either the federal or state governments, such as the ability to make ex post facto laws.

Full Faith and Credit Clause

Requires states to recognize the public acts and judicial proceedings of other states.

Full Faith and Credit Clause

Requires states to recognize legal decisions and contracts made in other states.

Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA)

Passed in 1996, defined marriage as between one man and one woman, leading to legal battles over same-sex marriage.

Obergefell v Hodges (2015)

U.S Supreme Court case that ruled same-sex marriage bans unconstitutional under the Fourteenth Amendment.

Public Policy Exception

Allows states to refuse to recognize laws from other states if they conflict with their own statutes.

Privileges and Immunities Clause

Guarantees citizens of one state the same fundamental rights as citizens of other states, promoting harmony and equality.

Interstate Rendition

Process of handing over a fugitive from one state to another for prosecution, preserving interstate comity.

Extradition Clause

Found in Article IV, Section 2, Clause 2, allows federal courts to compel states to extradite fugitives.

Interstate Compacts

Legally binding agreements between states, approved by Congress, often concerning shared resources like rivers.

Evolution of Federalism

The process of interpreting and applying the U.S Constitution's distribution of power between state and national governments.

McCulloch v Maryland (1819)

U.S Supreme Court case establishing the Elastic Clause and Supremacy Clause, expanding federal government power.

Interstate Commerce Clause

A clause in the U.S. Constitution that gives Congress the power to regulate commerce among states, foreign nations, and with Indian tribes.

Gibbons v Ogden (1824)

A Supreme Court case that broadly defined commerce as "intercourse, all its branches," allowing Congress to regulate commercial activities involving more than one state.

Barron v Mayor of Baltimore (1833)

A Supreme Court case that held the Fifth Amendment's requirement of just compensation for takings of private property only applied to the federal government, not state governments.

Dual Federalism

A model of federalism where the federal and state governments have separate spheres of influence and powers, each operating independently within their own domain.

Dred Scott v Sandford (1857)

A Supreme Court case that declared slaves as beings of an inferior order, denied citizenship, and upheld states' rights to determine the fate of slavery within their borders.

Cooperative Federalism

A form of federalism where federal, state, and local governments work together on implementing policies and programs, blurring the lines between their spheres of influence.

New Deal

A series of government programs initiated by President Franklin Roosevelt during the Great Depression to combat economic challenges and promote recovery in the United States.

Categorical Grant

A type of grant where Congress allocates federal funds to states for specific purposes in particular areas, allowing Congress to regulate various aspects of state activities.

Unfunded Federal Mandates

Regulations imposed by the federal government on states without providing financial assistance, leading to strained relations between state and federal governments.

New Federalism

A policy approach aimed at reducing federal government power and increasing state autonomy, characterized by the use of block grants and a shift of power back to state and local governments.

Block Grants

Grants provided by the federal government to states with more flexibility in spending, less federal oversight, and a reduced influence of the federal government over state and local governments.

Civic Engagement

Opportunities for democratic participation at different levels of government, promoting involvement in governance and policy-making processes.