Unit 2

Pluralist democracy

A theory of government in which many people and groups compete for policy.

Participatory democracy

A system of government in which citizens are directly involved in making choices about policy.

Elite democracy

A system of government which emphasizes limited participation by wealthy and well educated citizens in politics and civil society.

Republic (representative democracy)

A system of government in which people elect representatives to make policy in the citizen's interest.

Federalist

Those who attended the Constitutional Convention who favored a strong national government and a system of separated powers.

Federalism

A system of government where power is shared between the national government and the states.

Fiscal federalism

The use of spending by the national government through the grant process to influence state policies.

Cooperative federalism (Marble cake)

A system where the federal government and the states work together in funding and administering programs.

Commerce clause

The clause in article 1 that gives Congress the power to regulate all business activities that cross state lines or affect more than one state or other nations.

Supremacy clause

Article IV clause that gives the Constitution and national laws supremacy over state laws.

Categorical grants

Money given by the federal government to the states to be used for a narrowly defined purpose.

Block grants

Federal money given to the states with few restrictions about how it should be spent.

Unfunded mandate

A federal requirement that forces the states to spend their own money to pay for it.

Devolution

A process by which the federal government gives more power and authority to the states.

Inherent powers

Powers that are naturally derived from the duties of a specific government position.

Expressed (enumerated) powers

Powers that are given to an institution of government directly in the Constitution, such as Congress' power to tax.

Implied powers

Powers that are 'necessary and proper' to carry out an expressed power in the Constitution, like the power of Congress to establish a bank.

Concurrent powers

Powers that are shared by both state and federal governments such as transportation.