AP GOV. VOCAB. ALL

Enumerated/ Express Powers

Are those powers specifically delegated to the Congress by the US Constitution.

Delegated Powers

Or the enumerated powers. They are powers mentioned in the Constitution belonging to the national government.

Implied Powers

Powers not mentioned specifically in the Constitution as belonging to Congress but inferred as "necessary and proper" for carrying out enumerated powers.

Inherent Powers

Are those powers derived from its sovereignty. For example it has the power to grant or deny citizenship.

Concurrent Powers

Powers belonging to both the national and state governments, including the power to tax and spend, make and enforce laws, and establish courts of justice.

Reserved Powers

Powers that are given to the states without the consult of the national government.

Block Grants

Federal grants given with a broad range of things to use the money for.

Categorical Grants

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

Project Grants

States compete for funding, the federal government selects specific projects based on merit.

Revenue Sharing

Congress gave an annual amount of federal tax revenue to the states and their cities and townships. However it was replaced with block grants in smaller amounts to reduce federal revenues given to states.

Restrictions

The limitation or control of someone/ something, or the state of being limited or restricted.

Mandates

Direct federal orders to state and local governments requiring activities in a field already regulated by the federal government, as long as state regulatory standards are at least as stringent at the federal government's.

Preemption

Total/ partial federal assumption of power in a particular field, restricting the authority of the states.

Dual Federalism

National and state powers are clearly distinguished and functionally separate. National government focused on "delegated" powers, while State government focused on domestic policies.

Marble Cake Federalism

The federal government becomes more intrusive in what had been typically the domain of state governments.

Cooperative Federalism

National, state, and local governments work together exercising common policy responsibilities.

Permissive Federalism

Because the national government is supreme, the states only have those powers which the national government permits them to exercise.

Competitive Federalism

To offer state pieces of the marble cake but to have them accept it with conditions and with a promise to develop programs of their own.

Centralized Federalism

National government determines national goals in major policy areas and directs state and local governments activity through conditions attached to money grants.

Regulatory Federalism

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

New Federalism

Attempts to return power and responsibility to the states and reduce the role of the national government in domestic affairs.

Carrot and Stick

A policy of offering a combination of rewards and punishment to induce behavior.

Devolution

Passing down of responsibilities from the national government to the state.

Centralists

Believe states should only get any power when the national government decides to give those powers to them, the states had violated people's rights, so the national government should be able to step in, and they want a looser interpretation of the constitution.

Decentralists

Believe states should have more power, should have the ability to check the national government to make sure it works properly, and they want a stricter interpretation of the constitution.

Privatization

To make or hold private. Primarily, it is the process of transferring ownership of something from a public sector (government) to a private sector.

Decentralization

To break up a concentration of (governmental authority, industry, population, etc.) in a main center and distribute more widely.

Constitutional Democracy

Government under law in which coalition and majority rule is balance by minority and individual rights, and in which most rights are balanced by responsibilities.

Popular Consent

Where the people give permission to be ruled in order for them to be protected. Also known as referendum, or a direct vote.

majoritarian democracy

Tendency of democratic governments to allow the faint preferences of the majority prevail over the intense feelings of minorities.

plurality

Election by at least one vote more than any other candidate in the race.

supermajority

some percent greater than the set majority. For example 2/3 or 3/4.

necessary and proper

Clause in constitution granting congress the power to enact all laws that are "necessary and proper" for carrying out those responsibilities specifically delegated to it.

separation of powers

Constitutional division of powers among the three branches of the government: legislative, judicial, and executive.

checks and balances

Constitutional provisions giving each branch of the national government certain checks over the actions of other branches.

bicameralism

Any legislative body that consists of 2 separate chambers, the house of representatives and the senate.

federalism

A constitutional arrangement whereby power is divided between national and subnational governments, each of which enforces its own laws.

unitary system

Constitutional arrangement whereby authority rests with the national government, subnational governments have only those powers given to them by the national government.

confederation

Constitutional arrangement whereby the national government is created by and relies on subnational governments for its authority.

judicial review

Power of the courts to declare laws of congress, laws of the states, and actions of the president unconstitutional and invalid.

government

Set of institutions that creates and maintains public policies for a society.

politics

Set of processes used by government and society to shape public policies.

public policy

Government and politics combined make up public policy. Public policy is a system of laws, regulations, rules, etc.

political system

Is made up of government, politics, and policies.

political issue

It is people or countries that dislike what is happening.

policy agenda

A list of subjects or problems to which people inside and outside government are paying serious attention to at any time.

policymaking system

The way our government responds to the priorities of our people.

democracy

Governing system in which the people govern themselves. It entails individual dignity, widespread participation in public decisions, and majority rule.

republic

A form of government in which the people select representatives to govern them and make laws.

representative democracy

Governing system in which public decision making is delegated to representatives of the people chosen by the popular vote.

pluralism

Public policy is the result of the interaction among groups.

elite theory

Public policy is dominated by a small percentage of the population.

bureaucratic theory

Public policy is dominated by the federal bureaucracy.

hyperpluralism

Too many groups create poor public policy.