APGOV chapter 3

federalism

a system that divides power between the national and state government

unitary system

a system where the central government has all of the power over subnational governments

Confederal system

a system where the subnational governments have most of the power

federal system

a system where power is divided between the national and state government

enumerated or expressed powers

powers explicitly granted to the national government through the Constitution; also called expressed powers.

exclusive powers

powers only the national government may exercise

implied powers

powers not granted specifically to the national government but considered necessary to carry out the enumerated powers.

commerce clause

grants Congress the authority to regulate interstate business and commercial activity

necessary and proper clause

grants the federal government the authority to pass laws required to carry out its enumerated powers. Also called the elastic clause

Supremacy clause

establishes the Constitution and the laws of the federal government passed under its authority as the highest laws of the land.

Tenth Amendment

reserves powers not delegated to the national government to the states and the people; the basis of federalism

reserved powers

powers not given to the national government, which are retained by the states and the people.

concurrent powers

powers granted to both states and the federal government in the Constitution.

full faith and credit clause

Constitutional clause requiring states to recognize the public acts, records, and civil court proceedings from another state.

extradition

the requirement that officials in one state return a defendant to another state where a crime was committed

privileges and immunities clause

constitutional clause that prevents states from discriminating against people from out of state.

Thirteenth Amendment

Constitutional amendment that outlaws slavery

Fourteenth Amendment

constitutional amendment that provides that person born in the United States are citizens and prohibits states from denying persons due process or equal protection under the law.

Fifteenth Amendment

constitutional amendment that gave African American males the right to vote

dual federalism

a form of American federalism in which the states and the national government operate independently in their own areas of public policy.

selective incorporation

the process through which the supreme Court applies fundamental rights in the Bill of Rights to the states on a case-by-case basis

Cooperative federalism

A form of American federalism in which the states and the national government work together to shape public policy.

Grants-in-aid

federal money provided to states to implement public policy objectives

fiscal federalism

the federal government’s use of grants-in-aid to influence policies in the states.

Categorical grants

grants-in-aid provided to states with specific provision on their use

unfunded mandate

federal requirements that states must follow without being provided with funding.

block grants

a type of grant-in-aid that gives state official more authority in the disbursement of federal funds

revenue sharing

when the federal government apportions tax money to the states with no strings attached.

devolution

returning more authority to state or local governments.