Ch 3 Gov

federalism

A system of government where power is divided between central govt & regional govts

unitary system

A system of govt where lower levels of government have little independent power + primarily implement decisions made by the central govt

intergovernmental relations

the processes where levels of govt negotiate + compromise over policy responsibility

concurrent powers

shared authority w/ national govt & state govts to regulate commerce + the economy

police power

state authority to regulate fundamental matters concerning the health safety, welfare, + morals of its citizens

Full Faith and Credit Clause

Requires states to honor public acts, records, + judicial decisions that occur in another state

(1967) Loving v. Virginia

removed bans on interracial marriage

(1996) Defense of Marriage Act

Allowed for states govt & federal govt to not recognize same $ex marriage

Comity/Priviledges and Immunities Clause

Promotes national unity by requiring states to treat citizens from other states fairly, not allow special treatment to instate relatives, + requires states to return fleeding fugitives to their OG state

(2015) Obergefell v. Hodges

All states must allowed same sex marriage

Dual federalism/”traditional federalism”

System of govt in the US (1789-1937), where most fundamental govt powers were shared between to federal govt & state govts; national govt was small & rarely used functions it had

Commerce Clause

Gave national govt power to regulate commerce w/ other nations + favored national power over the economy

(1819) McCulloch v. Maryland

Allowed charter of national bank + concluded any state law that conflicts w/ national law is invalid

(1824) Gibbons v. Ogden

Allowed federal govt power to regulate interstate commerce

home rule

A guarantee of noninterference in various areas of local affairs

Grants-in-aid

Many provided on the condition that it be spent for the specific purpose defined by Congress

Categorical grants

Grants given to states + localities on the condition that expenditures be limited to a specific problem or law

Cooperative federalism

Federal system since New Deal, where grants-in-aid have been used strategically to encourage state & localities to pursue nationally defined goals/intergovernmental cooperation

Regulated federalism

Became more common in the 1970s; a form of federalism where congress requires state govts & localities to reach national standards

preemption

Allow for the national govt to override state or local actions in certain policy areas

states’ rights

the principle that states should impose the increasing authority of the national govt

nullification

the idea that states didn’t have to follow federal laws if they were unconstitutional

block grant

Important tool of devolution, where federal funding that states have considerable leeway on spending

(1995) Lopez v. US

Stated that Congress exercised too much power w/ commerce clause banning guns near schools

(1875) Civil Rights Act

Got shot down bc it was thought to exceed national power

deevolution

transferring responsibility for policy from the federal govt to state govts & localities; has been popular since the 1970s

New Federalism

Attempts by Nixon & Reagan to return power to states through block grants

general revenue sharing

1 unit of govt yields a portion of its tax income to another unit of govt