Ch. 3 Flashcards
Block Grant
A federal grant that provides funds to a state or local government for a general function area, such as criminal justice or mental-health programs
Categorical Grant
A federal grant to a state or local government for a specific program or project
Commerce Clause
The section of the Constitution in which Congress is given the power to regulate trade among the states and with foreign countries
Concurrent Powers
Powers held jointly by the national and state governments
Confederal System
A system consisting of a league of independent states, in which the central government created by the league has only limited powers over the states
Cooperative Federalism
A model of federalism in which the states and the national government cooperate in solving problems
Devolution
The transfer of powers from a national or central government to a state or local government
Dual Federalism
A model of federalism that looks on national and state governments as co-equal sovereign powers. Neither the state government nor the national government should interfere in the other’s sphere
Elastic Clause (Necessary and Proper Clause)
The clause in Article I, Section 8, that grants Congress the power to do whatever is necessary to execute its specifically delegated powers
Enumerated Powers
Powers specifically granted to the national government by the Constitution. The first seventeen clauses of Article I, Section 8, specify most of the enumerated, or expressed, powers of the national government
Federal Mandate
A requirement in federal legislation that forces states and municipalities to comply with certain rules
Fiscal
A process by which funds raised through taxation or borrowing by one level of government(usually the national government) are spent by another level(typically, state or local governments)
Interstate Compact
An agreement between two or more states
Police Power
The authority to legislate for the protection of health, morals, safety, and welfare of the people. In the U.S. most police power is reserved to the states.
Supremacy Clause
The Constitutional provision that makes the Constitution and federal laws superior to all confliction state and local laws
