1C Vocab Flashcards
Federalism
Division of power between a central government and sub-divisional governments, called states in the United States
Unitary system
Constitutional arrangement that concentrates power in a central government
Confederation
Constitutional arrangement in which sovereign nations or states, by compact, create a central government but carefully limit its power and do not give it direct authority over individuals
Exclusive powers
Powers that only the federal government can exercise
Expressed powers
Powers that are specifically named in the Constitution (sometimes called delegated powers or enumerated powers)
Implied powers
Powers inferred from the expressed powers that allow Congress to carry out its functions
Reserved powers
All powers not specifically delegated to the national government by the Constitution. The reserve power can be found in the 10th Amendment to the Constitution.
Concurrent powers
Powers that the Constitution gives to both the national and state governments, such as the power to levy taxes
Necessary and proper clause
Clause of the Constitution (Article I, Section 8, Clause 18) setting forth the implied powers of Congress. It states that Congress, in addition to its express powers, has the right to make all laws necessary and proper to carry out all powers the Constitution vests in the national government.
Inherent powers
The powers of the national government in foreign affairs that the Supreme Court has declared do not depend on constitutional grants but rather grow out of the very existence of the national government
Supremacy clause
Clause in the Constitution (Article VI, Clause 2) that gives national laws the absolute power even when states have enacted a competing law
Commerce clause
Clause of the Constitution (Article I, Section 8, Clause 3) that gives Congress the power to regulate all business activities that cross state lines or affect more than one state or other nations
Federal mandate
A requirement the federal government imposes as a condition for receiving federal funds
Federal revenue sharing
Money collected by the federal government (through taxes) that was given to state and local governments
Full faith and credit clause
Clause in the Constitution (Article IV, Section 1) requiring each state to recognize the civil judgements rendered by the courts of the other states and to accept their public records and acts as valid
Centralists
People who favor national action over state or local action
Decentralists
People who favor state or local action over national action
Dual (“layer cake”) federalism
State governments and the national government each remain supreme within their own spheres. Powers and policy assignments of the layers of government are distinct.
Cooperative (“marble cake”) federalism
Mingling of responsibilities between state governments and the federal government. Sharing powers and policy assignments.
Policymaking
The process of formulating politics (creating laws or setting standards)
Devolution revolution
The effort to slow the growth of the federal government by returning many functions to the states
National supremacy
Constitutional doctrine that whenever conflict occurs between the constitutionally authorized actions of the national government and those of a state or local government, the actions of the federal government will prevail
Preemption
The right of a federal law or regulation to preclude enforcement of a state or local law or regulation
