Chapter 3: American Federalism Flashcards
Federalism
Constitutional arrangement in which power is distributed between a central government and subdivisional governments, called states in the United States. The national and the subdivisional governments both exercise direct authority over individuals.
Devolution revolution
The effort to slow the growth of the federal government by returning many functions to the states.
Dual federalism (layer cake federalism)
Views the constitution as giving a limited list of powers – primarily foreign-policy and national defense – to the national government, leaving the rest to the sovereign states. Each level of government is dominated within its own sphere. The Supreme Court serves as the umpire between the national government and the states in disputes over which level of government has responsibility for a particular activity.
Cooperative federalism
Stresses federalism as a system of intergovernmental relations in delivering governmental goods and services to the people and calls for cooperation among various levels of government
Marble cake federalism
Conceives of federalism as a marble cake in which all levels of government are involved in a variety of issues and programs, rather than the layer cake, or dual federalism, but fix divisions between layers or levels of government.
Unitary system
Constitutional arrangement that concentrates power in a central government
Express powers
Powers the Constitution specifically grants to one of the branches of the national government.
Implied powers
Powers inferred from the express powers that allow Congress to carry out its function.
Necessary and proper clause
Clause of the Constitution (article 1, section 8, clause 3) setting forth the implied powers of Congress. It states that Congress, in addition to its expressed 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.
Commerce clause
The clause in the Constitution (article 1, section 8, clause 1) that gives Congress the power to regulate all business activities across 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.
Concurrent powers
Powers that the Constitution gives to both the national and state governments, such as the power to levy taxes.
Interstate compact
An agreement among two or more states. Congress must approve most such agreements.
National supremacy
Constitutional doctrine that whenever conflict occurs between the constitutionally authorize actions of the national government and those of the state and local government, the actions of the federal government will prevail
Preemption
The right of a federal law or regulation to preclude enforcement of the state or local law or regulation
Centralists
People who favor national action over action at the state and local levels.
Decentralists
People who favor state or local action rather than national action
Categorical-formula grants
Congress appropriates funds for a specific purpose, such as school lunches or for building airports and highways.
Project grants
Congress appropriates a certain sum, which is allocated to states and local units and sometimes to nongovernmental agencies, based on applications from those who wish to participate
Block Grants
These are broad state grants to states for prescribed activities – welfare, childcare, education, social services, preventative healthcare, and health services – with only a few strings attached
Linkage institution
The means by which individuals can express preferences regarding the development of public policy.
