Chapter Three

Question 1

Block Grant

Answer 1

A grant-in-aid for a broadly defined policy area, whose funding amount is typically based on a formula.

Question 2

Categorical Formula Grant

Answer 2

A grant-in-aid for a narrowly defined purpose, whose dollar value is based on a formula.

Question 3

Categorical Project Grant

Answer 3

A grant-in-aid for a narrowly defined purpose for which governments compete with each other by proposing specific projects.

Question 4

Centralized Federalism

Answer 4

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

Question 5

Commerce Clause

Answer 5

Article I clause that delegates to Congress the power to regulate interstate and international commercial interactions.

Question 6

Concurrent Powers

Answer 6

Basic governing functions that are exercised by the national and state governments independently, and at the same time, including the power to make policy, raise revenue, implement policies, and establish courts.

Question 7

Confederal System

Answer 7

A government structure in which several independent sovereign states agree to cooperate on specified policy matters by creating a central governing body; each sovereign state retains ultimate authority over other governmental matters within its borders, so the central governing body is not a sovereign government.

Question 8

Cooperative Federalism

Answer 8

Intergovernmental relations in which the national government supports state governments’ efforts to address the domestic matters reserved to them.

Question 9

Devolution

Answer 9

The process whereby the national government returns policy responsibilities to state or local governments.

Question 10

Enumerated Powers

Answer 10

The powers of the national government that are listed in the Constitution.

Question 11

Dual Federalism

Answer 11

The initial model of national and state relations in which the national government takes care of its enumerated powers while the state governments independently take care of their reserved powers.

Question 12

Extradition

Answer 12

The return of individuals accused of a crime to the state in which the crime was committed upon the request of that state’s governor.

Question 13

Federal System

Answer 13

A governmental structure with two levels of government in which each level has sovereignty over different policy matters and geographic areas; a system of government with dual sovereignty.

Question 14

Fiscal Federalism

Answer 14

The relationship between the national government and state and local governments whereby the national government provides grant money to state and local governments.

Question 15

Full Faith and Credit Clause

Answer 15

The constitutional clause that requires states to comply with and uphold the public acts, records, and judicial decisions of other states.

Question 16

Grants-In-Aid

Answer 16

The transfer of money from one government to another government that does not need to be paid back.

Question 17

Implied Powers

Answer 17

The powers of the national government that are not enumerated in the Constitution but that Congress claims are necessary and proper for the national government to fulfill its enumerated powers in accordance with the necessary and proper clause of the Constitution.

Question 18

Intergovernmental Relations

Answer 18

The interactions of two or more governments (national, state, and local) in their collective efforts to provide goods and services to the people they each serve.

Question 19

Interstate Compacts

Answer 19

Agreements between states that Congress has the authority to review and reject.

Question 20

Judicial Federalism

Answer 20

State courts’ use of their state constitutions to determine citizens’ rights, particularly when state constitutions guarantee greater protections than does the U.S. Constitution.

Question 21

Mandates

Answer 21

Clauses in legislation, including legislation that establishes grants-in-aid programs, that direct state and local governments to comply with national rules, standards, and other legislative directives.

Question 22

Matching Funds Requirement

Answer 22

A grant requirement that obligates the government receiving the grant to spend some of its own money to match a specified percentage of the grant money provided.

Question 23

McCulloch V. Maryland

Answer 23

The 1819 case that established that the necessary and proper clause justifies broad understandings of enumerated powers.

Question 24

Necessary and Proper Clause

Answer 24

A clause in Article I, Section 8, of the Constitution that gives Congress the power to do whatever it deems necessary and constitutional to meet its enumerated obligations; the basis for the implied powers.

Question 25

Nullification

Answer 25

A legal theory that state governments have the authority to invalidate national actions they deem unconstitutional.

Question 26

Partisan Federalism

Answer 26

The phenomenon of preference for state or national government action (hence, preference for dual federalism, cooperative federalism, or centralized federalism) depending on policy substance and partisan makeup of government at the other levels.

Question 27

Police Powers

Answer 27

The states’ reserved powers to protect the health, safety, lives, and properties of residents in a state.

Question 28

Preemption

Answer 28

The constitutionally based principle that allows a national law to supersede state or local laws.

Question 29

Privileges and Immunities Clause

Answer 29

The Constitution’s requirement that a state extend to other states’ citizens the privileges and immunities it provides for its citizens.

Question 30

Reserved Powers

Answer 30

The matters referred to in the Tenth Amendment over which states retain sovereignty.

Question 31

Supreme Law of the Land

Answer 31

A clause in Article VI, by which the U.S. Constitution’s ultimate authority is established; the clause states that all laws made by governments within the United States must comply with the Constitution.

Question 32

Unitary Clause

Answer 32

A governmental system in which one central government is the sovereign government and it creates other, regional governments to which it delegates some governing powers and responsibilities; however, the central government retains ultimate authority (sovereignty).

Question 33

United States V. Lopez

Answer 33

Case in which the U.S. Supreme Court ruled the national Gun-Free School Zones Act unconstitutional and affirmed that state governments have the right to establish gun-free school zones.

Question 34

Waivers

Answer 34

Exemptions from particular conditions normally attached to grants.