Federalism Video Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms from the Federalism video notes.

Federalism

Division of power between national and state governments in the United States.

National government

The central government responsible for nationwide policies and standards.

State government

Governmental authority at the state level handling state-specific policies.

Local control

Policy decisions made at the state or local level rather than the federal level.

Great and aggregate

Thomas Jefferson’s idea that national government should handle issues of broad, nationwide scope.

Local and particular

Jefferson’s idea that states should handle issues that are local or state-specific.

Environmental policy

Policies addressing the environment, pollution, and conservation.

National standards

Uniform requirements set by the national government for all states.

State standards

Standards set by individual states for their own policies.

Lax standards

Weak or insufficient standards that may fail to protect public interests.

Spillover

When policy outcomes in one state affect other states.

Spillover effects

Broader consequences of state policies that cross state borders.

50 laboratories of policy experimentation

Idea that each state can test policies, providing models for others.

Innovation and experimentation

Trying new policies to solve problems and improve outcomes.

California environmental policy

Example of progressive, state-level environmental regulation.

Alabama reproductive rights policy

Example of restrictive state-level reproductive policy.

Closeness to the people

The idea that state representatives are more accessible to voters.

State representatives

Legislators elected to represent state residents.

National representatives

Legislators elected to represent the entire country.

Visibility

The degree to which state politics receive media attention relative to national politics.

Media coverage

News attention given to political developments, often stronger for national than state issues.

Enforcement powers

Authority to enforce laws; national power includes broad enforcement reach.

State enforcement

States enforce laws through their own agencies and courts.

Environmental policy enforcement

Implementation and oversight of environmental rules at state level.

Coastal states

States bordering the ocean with distinct environmental and economic needs.

Inland states

States away from the coast with different policy needs.

Oil-producing states

States with significant oil industries influencing energy policy.

Agricultural states

States with dominant agricultural sectors affecting policy priorities.

Urbanized states

Highly populated states with urban policy concerns.

Population density

Number of people living per unit area, influencing policy needs.

Green policies

Policies aimed at reducing pollution and promoting sustainability.

Green energy

Renewable energy sources like wind and solar.

Federal tax money

Public funds collected by the national government used for nationwide programs.

Spillover cross-state problems

Issues like pollution or migration that affect multiple states.

National control

Power of the national government to set policy across states.

State control

Policy power retained by state governments.

Constitutional arguments

Legal grounds used to justify national or state authority over policy.

Tools to force states

Federal mechanisms (funding, mandates, preemption) to compel state action.

Federalism evolution

Historical shift toward greater national power over time.

Prerogatives of national government

Specific powers and advantages held by the federal government.

Brown v Board of Education (1954)

Ruling that separate educational facilities are inherently unequal.

Civil Rights Act (1964)

Federal law outlawing discrimination based on race, color, etc.

Voting Rights Act (1965)

Federal protections ensuring voting rights and preventing discrimination.

States' rights (coded meaning)

Phrase used to defend discriminatory policies in the Jim Crow era.

Ronald Reagan states' rights speech

1980 speech signaling support for states' control over civil rights enforcement.

Neshoba County speech

Location of Reagan’s states’ rights signal to Southern voters.

Discrimination

Unfair treatment of people based on characteristics like race or gender.

LGBTQ equality

Equal rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people.

Women’s equality

Equal rights and protections for women.

Masterpiece Cakeshop (2018)

Supreme Court decision involving Colorado’s anti-discrimination and religious freedom tensions.

Colorado wedding cake case

Colorado case involving a cake seller’s stance on same-sex marriage and discrimination.

Texas abortion law

State law restricting abortion access.

Class action lawsuit challenges Texas abortion law

Lawsuit contesting Texas abortion restrictions on constitutional grounds.

Reproductive rights

Rights to make decisions about reproduction, including abortion access.

Abortion policy

Laws and regulations governing abortion access and restrictions.

Reproductive health services

Medical services related to reproduction and contraception.

Democratic representation

People being represented by elected officials in government.

Progressive policies

Policies advancing social reform and expanded rights.

Conservative policies

Policies favoring limited government and traditional values.

Federal government tools

Means the national government uses to influence states (funding, mandates, etc.).

Compliance

Adherence to laws and policies.

Policy making authority

Power to create and implement laws.

Education policy

Laws and regulations governing schools and education systems.

Minimum wage laws

Laws setting the lowest legal hourly wage.

Voting rights enforcement

Protecting and ensuring access to the ballot for eligible voters.

Energy policy

Regulation of energy production, distribution, and use.

Ocean-border states

States that border the sea with unique environmental needs.

Environmental policy examples

Concrete instances of environmental regulation and policy measures.

Nuclear waste storage

Methods for safe storage and handling of nuclear waste.

Oil spills

Disasters involving leakage of oil into the environment.

Wildfires

Uncontrolled fires in natural areas affecting policy needs.

Climate change

Long-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns requiring policy responses.

Migration policy

Rules governing movement of people across borders or states.

Drug policy

Laws regulating illegal drugs and controlled substances.

Welfare policy

Programs designed to assist the poor and vulnerable.

Public opinion and policy

How citizen attitudes influence government decisions.

Local tailoring of policy

States customizing policy to fit local conditions.

State demographics

The composition of a state’s population.

State economy

The economic characteristics and conditions of a state.

Geographic variation

Differences in policy needs based on location.

Interconnected global life

Global interdependence that shapes domestic policy decisions.

21st-century policymaking

Modern policy environment shaped by globalization and technology.

National standards vs local standards

Tension between uniform federal rules and state-specific rules.

Policy proximity vs expertise

Trade-off between being close to the people and having national policy expertise.

State-level corruption concerns

Risks of corruption at the state level in policymaking.

National-level corruption concerns

Risks of corruption at the national level in policymaking.

State-level policy accessibility

Greater ease for citizens to access state lawmakers.

Assembly Member vs House Representative

Differences in legislative bodies: state assembly members vs federal representatives.

California environmental leadership

California as a leader in environmental policy initiatives.

Alabama reproductive policy restrictions

Alabama’s policies restricting abortion and reproductive health.

Progressive vs conservative divides

Ideological split shaping debates on federalism and policy.

Civil rights enforcement

Actions by government to enforce civil rights laws.

Discrimination definition

Unfair or prejudicial treatment of individuals or groups.

Equality rights

Rights ensuring equal treatment under the law.

Media influence on government

Media coverage and public discourse shaping policy and accountability.

Historical trend in federalism

Tendency toward expanding national government power over time.

Inter-state policy coordination

States working together to address cross-border issues.

Policy making by the national government

Process by which federal law and regulations are created.

Policy making by states

Process by which state laws and policies are created.

Purpose of federalism

To balance national unity with state autonomy and local flexibility.