Federalism Vocabulary

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms and concepts related to American federalism, government systems, constitutional clauses, and intergovernmental relations.

Federalism

A system of government in which power is divided, by a constitution, between a central government and regional governments.

Unitary System

A centralized government system in which lower levels of government have little power independent of the national government.

Intergovernmental relations

The processes by which the three levels of American government (national, state, and local) negotiate and compromise over policy responsibility.

Expressed powers

Specific powers granted by the Constitution to Congress (Article I, Section 8) and to the president (Article II).

Implied Powers

Powers derived from the Necessary and Proper Clause (Elastic Clause) of Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution, which are not specifically expressed but are implied through the expansive interpretation of delegated powers.

Necessary and Proper Clause

Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution provides Congress with the authority to make all laws "necessary and proper" to carry out expressed powers.

Reserved powers

Powers derived from the 10th Amendment to the Constitution, not specifically delegated to the national government or denied to the states.

Concurrent Powers

Authority possessed by both state and national governments, such as the power to levy taxes. If issues arise, National Supremacy is almost always favored.

Police power

Power reserved to the state governments to regulate the health, safety, and morals of its citizens.

Full Faith & Credit Clause

Provision from Article IV, Section 1 of the Constitution requiring that the states normally honor the public acts and judicial decisions that take place in another state.

Privileges & Immunities

Provision from Article IV, Section 2 of the Constitution that a state cannot discriminate against someone from another state or give its own residents special privileges.

Home rule

Power delegated by the state to a local unit of government to manage its own affairs.

Dual federalism

The system of government that prevailed in the US from 1789 to 1937, in which most fundamental governmental powers were shared between the federal government and the state governments.

Commerce Clause

Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution which delegates the power to "regulate commerce with foreign nations, and among the several states and with the Indian tribes;"; this clause was interpreted by the Supreme Court in favor of national power over the economy.

Grants-in-Aid

Programs through which Congress provides money to the state and local governments on the condition that the funds be employed for purpose defined by the federal government.

Categorical grants

Congressional grants given to states and localities on the condition that expenditures be limited to a problem or group specified by law.

Block grants

Federal grants-in-aid that allow states considerable discretion in how the funds are spent.

Cooperative federalism

A type of federalism existing since the New Deal era in which grants-in-aid have been used strategically to encourage states and localities without commanding them to pursue nationally defined goals (intergovernmental cooperation).

Regulated Federalism

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

States Rights

The principle that the states should oppose the increasing authority of the national government; this principle was most popular in the period before the Civil War.

Preemption

The principle that allows the national government to override state or local actions in certain policy areas; in foreign policy, the willingness to strike first in order to prevent an enemy attack.

Devolution

Policy to remove a program from one level of government by delegating it or passing it down to a lower level of government, such as from the national government to state government.

New Federalism

Attempts by President Nixon and Reagan to return power to the states through block grants.

General revenue sharing

Process by which one unit of government yields a portion of its tax income to another unit of government according to an established formula; revenue sharing typically involves the national government providing money to the state governments.

Unfunded mandates

Law or regulation requiring state or local governments to perform certain actions without providing funding for fulfilling the requirements.