Chapters 10-11 Flashcards
a republic in which the power is divided among the governments within the nation
federal republic
the central (national) government possesses all of the power
unitary system
the local units (states) possess all political power
confederacy
divides political power between the national and state governments
federal system
powers that both the national government and state governments exercise
concurent powers
powers expressly stated in the constitution
expressed powers
powers implied in the constitution
implied powers
the court case that established the doctrine of implied powers
McCulloch v. Maryland
powers which are reserved by the Constitution for the states or the people
resvered powers
the act of one state honoring the civil laws and county decisions of other states
full faith and credit
the special rights and protections guaranteed to the citizens of a state
privileges and immunities
the surrendering of an accused or convicted felon to the state from which he fled
extradition
each government is independent and exercises it s power without the assistance of other governments
dual federalism
belief that adherents could nullify laws they considered unconstitutional
doctrine of nullification
culmination of the conflict between the states and the federal government
civil war
gave broader interpretations to the power of congress to regulate commerce
Gibbons v. Ogden
provided for the federal government to tax personal incomes
16th amendment
two events that provided the federal government with the opportunity to extend its taxing power in the name of aiding the states
great depression and ww2
central government works with the states to alleviate the economic woes which resulted from the great depression and ww2
cooperative federalism
monies the national government gives to state or local governments for some designated purpose
federal grants
when congress was issuing more penalties than incentives to force the states to implement federal programs
coercive federalism
the court case that gave congress almost unlimited power over the states
Garcia v. San Antonio Metropolitan Authority
when a federal law supersedes or overrides a similar state law
preemption
general purpose grants that allow the states to have more jurisdiction in how to use the funds
block grants
grants that are given to the states that give congress more control over the states
categorical grants
rules that govern the use of money from grants
mandates
required that voting registration be available everywhere there was a state department of motor vehicles
motor voter law
stated that congress would have to conduct studies to determine the cost of mandates on the states
unfunded mandates reform act
a written plan which sets up a form of government and establishes its basic governing principles
constitution
serves as a states fundamental law
state constitution
the oldest written constitution now in force anywhere in the world
Massachusetts constitution
a short introductory statement telling why the constitution was written
preamble
provisions listing the basic rights of the people and limiting the powers of government
bill of rights
provisions for the three separate branches of state government
description of state government
provisions in state constitutions for local subdivisions of state government
description of local government
provisions dealing with voting qualifications and elections, the collection of state taxes and appropriation of funds, education, and various other aspects of state government
general provisions
provisions dealing with the process by which the constitution may be amended or revised
provisions for change
a major change in a state constitution
revision
a minor change in a state constitution
amendment
the three methods of proposing constitutional amendments used among the states
convention proposal
legislative proposal
initiative proposal
the process whereby citizens may enact their own laws or constitutional amendments by placing them on the ballot for acceptance or rejection by the voters
initiative
an election in which the voters of the state approve or reject a proposed amendment
referendum
one of the most important functions of state government
law enforcement
a governor’s official residence
governor’s mansion
more votes than anyone else
plurality
when state legislature removes the governor
impeachment
when the voters remove the governor
recall
by virtue of office or position
ex officio
orders that dictate how a law should be carried out
executive orders
the power to veto part of a bill without vetoing the entire bill
item veto
powers toward convicted criminals
clemency
serves as president of the state senate
lieutenant governor
has charge of keeping a wide variety of state records and documents
secretary of state
gives legal advise to the governor and other state officials
attorney general
guardian of state funds
treasurer
sees that state funds are spent properly
auditor
officer who oversees the operation of the public school system
superintendent of public instruction/commissioner of education
only state with a unicameral legislature
Nebraska
court case that decided that federal courts could have jurisdiction in cases involving state apportionment
Baker v. Carr
court case that ruled that the apportionment of both the house and senate must be based on population
Reynolds v. Sims
voters choose the political party’s nominees
direct primary
presiding officer of the House
speaker
keeps order in the state legislature
sergeant at arms
keeps unauthorized people from entering a legislative chamber
doorkeeper
runs errands for legislators
page
legislative system used by state legislatures
committee system
made to keep the legislative houses from being at odds with each other
joint committees
most often used type of vote in state legislation
voice vote
Vote in which those for and against a measure stand to be counted
standing vote
Vote in which legislators file between two tellers to record their vote
teller vote
type of vote that is permanently kept on record
roll-call vote
when an act of the legislature must be referred to the voters for approval or rejection
mandatory referendum
percentage of all court cases in the US that are decided by state courts
90 percent
lowest of the state court system
justice of the peace courts
the lowest state courts in sparsely populated urban areas
magistrate courts/police courts
what magistrate courts and police courts have been replaced with in larger urban areas
municipal courts
courts that exist to help people collect small sums of money allegedly due them
special small claims courts
known as courts of record because a transcript is made of the trial proceedings/ above the lower state courts
general trial courts
preside over trial courts
judges
keeps a court’s records
court clerks
the police officer of a court
bailiff
courts of appeals in some states
intermediate appellate courts
the top court in a state
state supreme court
the highest court to which a case can be appealed (state supreme court)
court of last resort
a group of people selected to ascertain the truth on the basis of evidence presented to them
jury
aids the judicial process by testifying under oath about what he has seen and heard in regard to a particular case
witness
the largest unit of local government
county
what counties are known as in Louisiana
parishes
what counties are known as in Alaska
boroughs
the city in which a county government has its headquarters
county seat
the governing body in a county
county board
the most common type of county board; consists of 3 to 7 members
board of commissioners
county board consisting of 12 to fifty members
board of supervisors
provides police protection for rural areas
sheriff
appraises taxable property within the county
county assessor
receives taxes and fees, acts as the caretaker of county funds, and makes authorized payments from the county treasury
treasurer
supervises a county’s records and authorizes the spending of county funds
auditor
conducts criminal investigations and prosecutes criminals
prosecuting attorney
maintains county records and issues various kinds of licenses
clerk
investigates the cause of death when someone dies under unknown circumstances
coroner/medical examiner
elected chief executive of a county
county president/supervisor
most important unit of government in New England
town
the unique feature of traditional town government
town meeting
elected members of a town, comparable to a county board
selectmen
the form of local self-government similar to a town
township
municipalities larger than a town
city
when a municipality has been designated as a legal governmental organization with certain rights and responsibilities
incorporated
when a community has no government of its own and is under the jurisdiction of a county
unincorporated
a legal document granted by the state which outlines a form of government for the city
city charter
the oldest and most used form of city government
mayor-council form
who elects the members of a city council if they are not popularly elected
wards
two types of city government other than mayor-council form
commission form
council-mayor form
dividing a city into numerous zones and regulating the use of property in each zone
zoning
types of zoning
residential
commercial
industrial
the developed areas outside city limits
suburbs
adding suburban areas
annexing
certain regulatory powers outside city limits
extraterritorial powers
a major city and the populated area surrounding it
metropolitan area
the single most important source of revenue among the states
sales tax
tax that applies to the sale of most products
general sales tax
tax put on items such as gasoline, tobacco, and alcoholic beverages
selective sales tax
a tax that places the greatest burden on those with lower incomes
regressive tax
a tax who’s rate changes with a person’s wealth
progressive tax
types of income taxes
individual
corporate
type of income tax that is uniform
corporate
tax levied against a person’s inherited share of an estate
inheritance tax
tax levied when one gives a large gift of money or property to another person
gift tax
chief source of income for local governments
property tax
property that includes land, buildings, and improvements on land
real property
property that includes personal possessions
Personal property
one who determines the value of property for tax purposes
assessor
tax for the removal of natural resources such as timber, coal, and oil
severance tax
sources of non-tax revenue
fees, lottery, borrowing
