AP Gov - 3 and 11

Federalism

a way of organizing a nation so that 2 or more levels of gov share formal authority over the same area and people

Intergovernmental Relations

the entire set of interactions among national, state and local gov - that constitute the working federal system

Unitary Government

central government holds supreme power over a nation

State power

public services that are not really defined by the government

What powers are denied to states?

economic, individual rights, and foreign affairs

States and Economics

can't regulate international trades and tax imports or exports

States and individual rights

no slavery, bills of attainder, expost facto

States and foregin affairs

can't enter into treaties, declare war, or raise military

Supremacy Clause

establishes that the federal constitution, and federal law generally, take precedence over state laws, and even state constitutions.

Eleventh Amendment

soverign immunity, can't sue the government without its permission, can sue the state you live in but not other states (unless you have permission)

McCulloch v. Maryland

supremacy of national government over state government, the Supreme Court ruled that Congress had implied powers

Enumerated Powers

powers of the federal government that are listed in Constitution

Implied Powers

powers of the federal government that go beyond enumerated powers

Elastic Clause

congress to pass all laws "necessary and proper" for carrying into execution

Commerce Power

Consitution gives Congress power to regulate interstate and international commerce

Gibbons v. Ogden

Supreme court interpreted Constitution and defined the power of Congress to regulate interstate commerce

Full, faith and credit

requiring each state to recognize the public acts, records and judicial proceedings of all other states

Example of full, faith and credit

if you're married in Ohio, you are still married in Idaho

Extradition

a state surrenders a person charged with a crime to which the crime was allegedly committed

Privileges and Immunities

provision in constitution according citizens of each stae the privelages of citizens of any state they happen to be

Privileges and Immunities example

you're treated the smae way in any other state

Dual Federalism

system of gov in which states and national government each remain supreme within their own spheres, each w/ different powers and responsibilities

Cooperative Federalism

national government and the states share powers and policy assignments

Shared Costs

cities and states can recieve federal money if they pay part of the bill

Federal Guidelines

most federal grants to states and cities come with strings attached

Shared Administration

state and local officals implement federal policies

Devolution

transferring responsibility for policies from federal gov to state and local gov

Fiscal Federalism

pattern of spending, taxing, and providing grants in the fed system; cornerstone of the national gov relations with state and local gov

Categorical Grants

federal grants given to state and local governments to encourage their cooperation in implementing specific purposes and programs.

Block Grants

awarded by the Federal government to state and local governments for broadly defined purposes — for example, social services or community development.

Mandates

Rules telling states what they must do to comply with federal guidelines. If unfunded they put a financial burden on state and local governments.

State(s) policy innovation

laborotory to test and develop natural public policy

Federalism Contribution to Democracy

opportunities to participate, access to government, local interests to thwart national majorities, too many offices to vote for, low voter turnout in local elections

National government involved in economic marketplace

quotes (to help american business), subsidies, regulations, national banking system, breaking up monopolies, rural electrification, price supports, unions right to organize

Why not state governments to solve the national government involved in economic marketplace probles?

The vote of the national governemnt has expanded and supplied states with more responsibilities. This means more power and more expectations

The United States v Lopez

it marked the first time in half a century that the Court held Congress had overstepped its power under the Commerce Clause.

The framers of the constitution conceived the legislature as ...

... the center of policymaking in America

Descriptive Representation

representing constituents by mirroring their personal and political relevant characteristics

Substantive Representation

speak for the interests of groups of whihc themselves aren't members

What are the advantages incumbents have in elections?

They have more money for advertising, credit claiming, weak opponents, campaign spending, name recognition and franking privelages

Why do members of the House have a higher rate of reelection than the Senate?

They know the people more, senate = more diverse populations and its hard to represent them all

Baker v Carr

ruling that allowed federal courts to renew boundaries of legislative districts

Wesberry v Sanders

congressional districts have to be drawn with equal populations

What are the Pros of having a term limit on members of Congress?

If they are doing bad its easier to vote them out, it limits majority control in the Congress

What are the Cons of having a term limit on members of Congress?

Less time to institute a policy you want, and if you want the same person you have to reelct them

Differences between the House and the Senate

House: initiates all revenue bills, 435 members, 2 year term limit, limited debate, more important in determining power

Senate: confirms many presidential nominations, 100 members, 6 year terms, unlimited debate

Speaker of the House

an office mandated by the Constitution, speaker is chosen in practice by majority party

Majority Leader

responsible for scheduling bills

Whips

count votes and lean on wavers who votes (senate); their job is to get leaders to vote for bills; whip you into shape

Minority Leaders

principal leader of minority pary in HOR or in Senate

Standing Committee

committees in each house of Congress that handle bills in different policy areas, all work gets done; PERMENANT

Joint Committee

draw their membership from both the senate and the house

Conference Committee

congressional committees formed when the senate or house pass a particular bill in different forms; appoints members from each house, COMPROMISE OVER A BILL

Select Committee

temporary or permanant and usually have a specific focus

3 standing committees in the House

foreign affairs, armed services, budget

3 standing committees in the senate

budget, finance, vetern's affairs

Importance of Committee Chairs

most important influencers of their committees agendas

The role of Caucuses

congress members that share the same interest groups

Name 2 Caucuses

Hispanic Caucus, Sun Belt Caucus, Caucus of Women's issue

Congressional Research Service (CRS)

composed of researchers, provides members with nonpartisan studies

Government Accountability Office (GAO)

helps congress preform its oversight functions by reviewing the activities of executive branch and if its following the rules

Congressional Budget Office (CBO)

focuses on analyzing the presidents budget and making economic projections about performance of the economy

House Rules Committee

it reviews bills from committees before it can go to the main

Legislation

Congress monitoring of the executive branch

Private Bills

grant citizenship or pay a settlement

"Marked up"

committee rewrites a proposed bill

"floor managers"

help party leaders hustle votes for things

Filibuster

a strategy unique to the senate where they use their right to unlimited debtate to prevent Senate from voting on a bill

Double Tracking

a procedure to keep the Senate going during a filibuster, whereby disputed bill is temprairly shelved so that the Senate can go on with other business.

Trustees

representatives using their best judgement to make policy in the interest of the people, usually economically

Lobbying

Seeking to influence a public official on an issue; an interest group with a particular agenda

Grassroots

localized movements, influencing policy via letters, emails, calls

1995 Law

tightened restrictions and disclosure requirements

Do Americans get the Congress they deserve?

true, the people elect their representatives directly so they have control over how good the congress is