ch3 Flashcards
Federalism
Political system which divides authority between different levels of government
Advantages/Disadvantages of Federalism
Local control and experimentation (health care, voting rights, civil rights)
Flexibility
Repetition of services/programs
Necessary and Proper Claus
elastic clause
Supremacy Clause of Article VI
“This Constitution, and the Laws of the United States which shall be made in Pursuance thereof; and all Treaties made, or which shall be made, under the Authority of the United States, shall be the supreme Law of the Land; and the Judges in every State shall be bound thereby, any Thing in the Constitution or Laws of any State to the Contrary notwithstanding.
Two Main Views (Cake)
Dual Federalism: Layer cake; early view
Cooperative Federalism: Marble cake; the powers and responsibilities are much more difficult to segregate…but one is still dominant
Unitary System
Central government has extreme authority. Local units serve at the pleasure of the central power and exist as administrators
Confederal System
Local units have control and the central exists only with permission of the locals; i.e. United Nations and European Union
McCulloch v. Maryland
“Necessary and proper” interpreted to mean “appropriate”
“Power to tax is power to destroy”; states don’t have power to tax federal government or entities
Gibbons v. Ogden
Congress has broad regulatory power over commerce, congress controls what goes in and out
No Federal Influence
All power and control left to lower levels of government (rare)
Categorical Grants
Very detailed requirements for federal funding in specific policy areas; often require matching funds from state/local
Block Grants
Limited instructions and requirements; money provided for the lower level to use as they see fit (roads, education, etc.)
Unfunded Mandates
Specific policy requirements with no financial backing to support implementation of policy (No Child Left Behind)
