Unit 1 AP Gov voc
Bicameral legislature: two-house legislature.
Block grant: money granted by the federal government to the states for a board purpose (eg.,transportation) rather than for a narrow purpose (eg., school lunch program).
Categorical grant: money granted by the federal government to the states for a narrow purpose (eg.,school lunch program) rather than for a broad purpose (eg.,transportation).
Centralists: those who favor greater national authority rather than state authority.
Checks and balances: system in which each branch of the government can limit the power of the other two branches, e.g., presidential veto of a congressional law.
Commerce clause: gives Congress the power to regulate commerce among the states, with foreign nations, and among Indian tribes. Granted through Article 1, section 8 of the Constitution.
Concurrent powers: those held by both Congress and the states, e.g., establishing law enforcement agencies.
Confederation: system in which sovereign states are only loosely tied to a central government, e.g., the US under the Articles of Confederation.
Decentrailists: those who favor greater state authority rather than national authority.
Direct democracy: system in which the people rule themselves.
Elastic clause: states that Congress can exercise those powers that are “necessary and proper” for carrying out the enumerated powers, e.g., establishment of the first Bank of the United States.
Enumerated powers: Those that are specifically granted to Congress in Article 1, Section 8 of The Constitution, e. g., the power to tax. Also known as expressed powers.
Federalism: constitutional sharing of power between a central government and a state government. Different varieties:
Dual federalism: system in which the national government and state governments are cup equal, with each being dominant within its respective sphere.
Cooperative federalism: system in which both federal governments and state governments cooperate in solving problems.
New Federalism: system in which the national government restores greater authority back to the states.
Federalist Papers: group of 85 essays written by Madiosn, Hamilton, and Jay for the purpose of persuading the people of New York to adopt the Constitution.
Formal amendment: a change in the actual wording of the Constitution. Proposed by Congress or nation convention, and ratified by the states.
Implied powers: those that are “necessary and proper” to carry out Congress’ enumerated powers, that are granted to Congress through the elastic clause.
Indirect democracy: system in which the people are ruled by their representatives. Also known as representative democracy, or republic.
Inherent powers: foreign policy powers (e.g., acquiring territory) held by the national government by virtue of its being a national government.
Informal amendment: a change in the meaning, but not the wording, of the Constitution, e.g., through a court decisions such as Brown v. Board.
Judicial review: power of the courts to rule on the constitutionality of laws and government actions. Established by Marbury V. Madison, 1803.
Mandates: requirements imposed by the national government upon the states. Some are unfunded mandates, i.e., they are imposed by the national government, but lack funding.
Marbury v. Madison, 1803: established the power of judicial review.
McCulloch v. Maryland, 1819: established principle of national supremacy and validity of implied powers.
Police powers: powers of the states to protect public health, safety, morals and welfare of the public.
Popular sovereignty: principle in which ultimate political authority rests with the people.
Reserved powers: powers held by the states through the 10th amendment. Any power not granted to the US government is “reserved” for the states.
Separation of powers: principale in which the powers of government are separated among three branches: legislative, executive, judicial.
Shays’ Rebellion: 1786 revolt by Massachesuts farmers seeking relief from debt and foreclosure that was a factor in the calling of the Constitutional Convention.
Supermajority: a majority greater than a simple majority of one over half, e.g., ⅗, ⅔.
Unicameral legislature: one-house legislature.