AP Gov Unit 1 B

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms related to federalism, powers of government, and constitutional clauses.

Federalism

The power of taxation is shared, and powers that would take away the rights of citizens are denied to both levels.

Enumerated powers

Powers granted to the national government in the Constitution, especially to Congress.

Implied powers

Powers not specifically granted to the federal government, but Congress can make laws to carry out its enumerated powers under the necessary and proper clause.

Reserved/Exclusive powers

Powers that only the national government may exercise (coin money, declare war, raise an army and navy, etc.).

Concurrent powers

Powers granted in the Constitution that allow national and state authority to overlap in areas of public policy (shared powers, etc.).

Categorical grants

Given to states as long as the states comply with specific federal standards. Used as incentives to integrate schools and Lyndon Johnson's administration, and also used to raise the drinking age.

Block grants

Given to states for a relatively broad purpose, and the states can spend the money as they see fit. For example, Congress might give a state money for the prevention of crime, and the state decides exactly how to spend that money in order to meet that requirement.

Mandates

Require states to follow federal directives, but often compliance with these directives is beyond a state’s budget capacity.

Tenth Amendment

Powers not delegated to the federal government are reserved to the states or the people.

Fourteenth Amendment

Provides that persons born in the United States are citizens and prohibits states from denying persons due process or equal protection under the law (South States cannot deny citizenship to former slaves, due process = fair trial).

Commerce clause

Congress has claimed the authority to define nearly any productive activity as commerce.

Necessary & Proper clause / Elastic clause

Grants Congress the authority to legislate as it sees fit in order to carry out its constitutionally granted powers (implied powers). The Court reasoned that creating a national bank was a means to help Congress carry out its constitutional powers, like taxing and regulating commerce, etc.

Supremacy Clause

The power to tax could potentially destroy the federal institution, so the tax was deemed unconstitutional.