AP Gov key terms unit 3

Federalism: a system that divides power between the national and state governments

Unitary system: central government has all the power over subnational government

Confederal systems: subnational government had most of the power

Federal system: where power is divided between the national and state governments

Exclusive power: only the national government may exercise these set powers

Implied powers; powers not granted specifically to the national government, but considered necessary to carry out enumerated powers

Commerce clause: grants congress the authority to regulate interstate commerce, business a commercial activity

Elastic clause: grants the federal government the authority to pass laws required to carry out enumerated powers

Supremacy clause: establishes the constitution and the laws of the federal government passed under its authority of highest law of the land

10th Amendment: reserves power not delegated to the national government to the states

Reserved powers: powers not given to the national government, retained by people and states

Concurrent powers: powers granted to both federal and state governments in the constitution 

Full faith and credit clause: requiring states to recognize the public acts, records and civil court proceedings from another state

Extradition: requirement that officials in one state return a defendant to the other where the crime was committed

Privilege and immunities clause: prevents states from discriminating against people out of state

13th Amendment: Outlaws slavery

14th Amendment: all people born in US are citizens

15th Amendment: Gave African Americans the right to vote

Dual federalism: state and nation operate independently in their own areas of public policy 

Selective incorporation: process through which the Supreme Court applies fundamental rights in the bill of rights to the states on a case by case basis
Corporate federalism: form of American federalism in which states and national governments work together to shape public policy

Grants-in-aid: federal money provided to states to implement public policy objectives

Fiscal Federalism: federal government use of grants-in-aid to influence policies in the states

Categorical grants: grants-in-aid provided to states with specific provisions on their use

Unfunded mandates: federal requirements that states must follow without being provided with funding

Block grant: type of grant-in-aid that gives state officials more authority in the disbursement of federal funds

Revenue sharing: when the federal government apportions tax money to the states with no strings attached

Devolution: returning more authority to state or local governments