Unit 1 Vocab List

Block Grants

Federal aid provided to a state government to be spent within a certain policy area, but the state can decide how to spend the money within that area

Categorical Grants

Federal aid to state or local governments that is provided for a specific purpose, such as a mass-transport program within the transportation budget or a school lunch program within the education budget

Checks and Balances

A system in which each branch of government has some power over the others

Coercive Federalism

A form of federalism in which the federal government pressures the states to change their policies by using regulation, mandates, and conditions

Commerce Clause

Part of Article 1, Section 8, of the constitution that gives Congress “the power to regulate commerce…among the several states.” The supreme court’s interpretation of this clause has varies, but today it serves as the basis for much on congress’s legislation

Competitive Federalism

A form of federalism in which states compete to attract businesses and jobs through the policies they adopt

Concurrent Powers

Responsibilities for particular policy areas such as transportation, that are shared be the federal, state, and local governments

Cooperative Federalism

A form of federalism in which the national and state governments work together to provide services efficiently

“Consent of the Governed”

Dual Federalism

The form of federalism in which national and state governments are seen as distinct entities providing separate services. Limits the power of the national government

Enumerated Powers

Powers explicitly granted to Congress, the president, or the Supreme Court in the first three articles of the Constitution

Executive Power Clause

Part of Article 2, Section 1, “The executive power shall be vested in the president of the United States.” Justifies presidential power

Faction

Groups of like-minded people who try to influence the Government

Federal Preemptions

Impositions of national priorities on the states through national legislation that is based on the Constitution’s supremacy clause

Federalism

Division of power across local, state, and national government

Fiscal Federalism

A form of federalism in which funds are allocated to the lower levels of government through transfer payments or grants

Full Faith and Credit Clause

Part of article 4 of the Constitution requiring that each state’s laws be honored by the other states

The Great Compromise

Compromise between large and small states, proposed by Connecticut, in which Congress would have two houses: a senate with 2 reps. per state and a house based on pupulation

Implied Powers

Powers supported by the Constitution that are not expressly stated in it

McCulloch v. Maryland

Supreme court ruling that Maryland did not have the power to tax the second bank of the US and that Congress did have the power to create the bank

National Supremacy Clause

Part of Article 6, section 2, of Constitution stating that the constitution and the laws of US are supreme laws of the land, meaning national laws take precedence

Natural Rights

“Life liberty and the pursuit of happiness” Founders believe upholding these rights should be governments central purpose

Necessary and Proper Clause

Part of article 1, section 8 that grants Congress the power to pass all laws related to its powers

New Jersey Plan

A plan in response to Virginia plan, where smaller states at the constitutional convention proposed that each state should receive equal representation in the national legislature

Pluralism

The idea that having a variety of parties and interests within a government will strengthen the system, no group has total control

Picket fence federalism

A more refined and realistic form of cooperative federalism in which policy makers within a particular policy area work together across the levels of government

Popular sovereignty

Leaders are sustained by the people

Privileges and Immunities Clause

Part of article 4 of the Constitution requiring that states must treat no state residents within their borders as they would treat their own residents

Republicanism

form of government in which the interests of the people are represented through elected leaders is the best form of Government

Separation of Powers

The division of government power across the judicial, executive, and legislative branches

Social contract

The people recognize the authority of the state to govern over them, and in turn, the government protects the rights and freedoms of the people

Tenth Amendment

Powers not delegated to the United States are reserved to the states

Limited Government

A political system in which the powers of the government are restricted to prevent tyranny by protecting property and individual rights

Unfunded Mandates

Federal laws that require the states to do certain things but do not provide state governments with funding to implement these policies

United States v. Lopez

A 1995 case that struck down a federal law regulating the possession of firearms around schools

Virginia Plan

Plan proposed by the larger states during the Constitution convention that based representation in the national legislature on population