AP Government & Politics Terms Quiz #1b

democracy

A system of rule that permits citizens to play a significant part in government, usually through the selection of key public officials

constitutional government

A system of rule that establishes specific limits on the powers of the government

politics

Conflict and cooperation over the leadership, structure, and policies of government

jurisdiction

The domain over which an institution or member of an institution has authority; the types of cases over which a court has authority

delegation

The transmission of authority to some other official or body (though often with the right of review and revision)

transaction costs

The cost of clarifying each aspect of a principal-agent relationship and monitoring it to make sure both parties comply with all arrangements

collective action

The pooling of resources and the coordination of effort and activity by a group of people (often a large one) to achieve common goals

free riding

Enjoying the benefits of some good or action while letting others bear the costs

public good

A good that (1) may be enjoyed by anyone if it is provided and (2) may not be denied to anyone once it has been provided. Also called a collective good

tragedy of the commons

The idea that a common resource, available to everyone, will more likely than not be abused or overused

expressed powers

Powers that the Constitution explicitly grants to the federal government

necessary and proper clause

The last paragraph of Article 1, Section 8, which gives Congress the power to make all laws needed to exercise the powers listed in Section 8. Also called the elastic clause

supremacy clause

A clause of Article VI of the Constitution stating that all laws and treaties approved by the national government are the supreme laws of the United States and superior to all laws adopted by any state or local government

sovereignty

Independent political authority

implied powers

Powers derived from the necessary and proper clause (Article 1, Section 8) of the Constitution. Such powers are not specifically expressed in the Constitution but are implied through the interpretation of delegated powers

reserved powers

Powers that are not specifically delegated to the national government or denied to the states by the Constitution. Under the Tenth Amendment, these powers are reserved to the states

eminent domain

The right of the government to take private property for public use, with reasonable compensation awarded to the owner

police power

The power reserved to the state governments to regulate the health, safety, and morals of citizens

concurrent powers

Authority possessed by both state and national governments, such as the power to levy taxes

home rule

The power delegated by a state to a local unit of government to manage its own affairs

grants-in-aid

Funds given by Congress to state and local governments on the condition that they be used for a specific purpose

categorical grants-in-aid

Funds given to state and local governments by Congress that are earmarked by law for specific policy categories, such as education or crime prevention

unfunded mandates

National standards or programs imposed on state and local governments by the federal government without accompanying funding or reimbursement

block grants

Federal funds given to state governments to pay for goods, services, or programs, with relatively few restrictions on how the funds may be spent

legislative supremacy

The preeminent position within the national government that the Constitution assigns to Congress

divided government

The condition in American government in which one party controls the presidency, while the opposing party controls one or both houses of Congress