chapter 3 vocab

Question 1

block grants

Answer 1

Federal grants-in-aid that permit state and local officials to decide how the money will be spent within a general area, such as education or health.

Question 2

reserved powers

Answer 2

the powers granted to the states under the Tenth Amendment to the Constitution.

Question 3

categorical grants

Answer 3

Federal grants-in-aid to states and localities that can be used only for designated projects.

Question 4

sovereignty

Answer 4

The supreme (or ultimate) authority to govern within a certain geographical area

Question 5

Centralized federalism

Answer 5

intergovernmental relations in which the national government imposes its policy preferences on state and local governments

Question 6

unitary system

Answer 6

A governmental system in which the national government alone has sovereign (ultimate) authority.

Question 7

cooperative federalism

Answer 7

The situation in which the national, state, and local levels work together to solve problems.

Question 8

fiscal federalism

Answer 8

A term that refers to the expenditure of federal funds on programs run in part through states and localities.

Question 9

devolution

Answer 9

The passing down of authority from the national government to the state and local government

Question 10

grants-in-aid

Answer 10

Federal cash payments to states and localities for programs they administer.

Question 11

dual federalism

Answer 11

the national government takes care of its enumerated powers while the state governments take care of their reserved powers

Question 12

implied powers

Answer 12

The federal government’s constitutional authority (through the “necessary and proper” clause) to take action that is not expressly authorized by the Constitution but that supports actions that are so authorized.

Question 13

enumerated (expressed) powers

Answer 13

The seventeen powers granted to the national government under Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution. These powers include taxation and the regulation of commerce as well as the authority to provide for the national defense.

Question 14

Mandates

Answer 14

clauses in legislation that direct state governments to comply with national legislation and standards

Question 15

Federalism (dual sovereignty)

Answer 15

A governmental system in which authority is divided between two sovereign levels of government: national and regional.

Question 16

“necessary and proper” (elastic) clause

Answer 16

Congress has the power to do whatever it deems necessary and constitutional to meet its enumerated obligations; the basis for implied powers