chapter 3-the federal system Flashcards
confederation
type of government in which the national government derives its powers from the states; a league of independent states
iroquois confederacy
political alliance of american indian tribes established in the seventeeth century that featured aspects of the federal system of government adapted by the farmers
monarchy
form of government in which power is vested in hereditary kings and queens who govern the entire society
totalitarianism
form of government in which power resides in leaders who rule by force in their own self-interest and without regard to rights and liberties
oligarchy
form of government in which the right to participate depends on the possession of wealth, social status, military position, or achievement
democracy
system of government that gives power to the people, whether directly or through elected representatives
federal system
system of government in which the national government and state governments share the power and derive all authority from the people
unitary system
system of government in which the local and regional governments derive all authority from a strong national government
enumerated powers
powers of the national government specifically granted to congress in article I, section 8 of the constitution
implied powers
powers of the national government derived from the enumerated powers and the necessary and proper clause
tenth amendment
final part of the bill of rights that defines the basic principle of american federalism in stating that the powers not delegated to the national government are reserved to the states or to the people
reserved powers
powers reserved to the states by the tenth amendment that lie at the foundation of a state’s right to legislate for the public health and welfare of its citizens
`concurrent powers
powers shared by the national and state governments
bill of attainder
a law declaring an act illegal without a judicial trial
ex post facto law
law that makes an act punishable as a crime, even if the action was legal at the time it was committed
full faith and credit clause
section of article IV of the constitution that ensures judicial decrees and contracts made in one state will be binding and enforceable in any other state
privileges and immunities clause
part of article IV of the constitution guaranteeing that the citizens of each state are afforded the same rights as citizens of all other states
extradition clause
part of article IV of the constitution that requires to extradite, or return, criminals to states where they have been convicted or are to stand trial
interstate compacts
contracts between states that carry the force of law; generally now used as a tool to address multistate policy concerns
dillions rule
a premise articulated by judge john F. dillion in 1868 which states that local governments do not have any inherent sovereignty and instead must be authorized by state governments that can create or abolish them
charter
a document that, like a constitution, specifies the basic policies, procedures, and institutions of local government. charters for local governments must be approved by state legislatures
counties
the basic administrative units of local government