Constitutional Underpinnings

Question 0

Block Grant

Answer 0

Money granted by the federal gov’t to the states for a broad purpose (e.g., transportation) rather than for a narrow purpose (e.g. School lunch program)

Question 1

Bicameral Legislature

Answer 1

Two house legislature

Question 2

Categorical Grant

Answer 2

Money granted by the federal gov’t to the states for a narrow purpose (e.g., school lunch program) rather than for a broad purpose (e.g., transportation)

Question 3

Centralists

Answer 3

Those who favor greater national authority rather than state authority

Question 4

Checks and Balances

Answer 4

System in which each branch of gov’t can limit the power of the other two branches, e.g., presidential veto of a congressional law

Question 5

Commerce Clause

Answer 5

Gives congress the power to regulate commerce among the states, with foreign nations, and among Indian tribes. Granted through Article 1, section 8 of the constitution

Question 6

Concurrent Powers

Answer 6

Those held by both Congress and the states, e.g., establishing law enforcement agencies

Question 7

Confederation

Answer 7

A system in which sovereign states are only loosely tied to a central government, e.g., the US under the Articles of Confederation

Question 8

Decentralists

Answer 8

Those who favor greater state authority rather than national authority

Question 9

Direct Democracy

Answer 9

System in which people rule themselves

Question 10

Elastic Clause

Answer 10

States that congress can exercise those powers that are “necessary and proper” for carrying out the enumerated powers,e.g, establishment of the first Bank of the US

Question 11

Enumerated Powers

Answer 11

Those that are specifically granted to Congress in Article 1, section 8 of the Constitution,e.g., the power to tax. AKA expressed powers

Question 12

Federalism

Answer 12

Constitutional sharing of powers between the central government and state governments. Has three varieties

Question 13

Dual federalism

Answer 13

System in which the national government and state governments are coequal, with each being dominant within its representative sphere

Question 14

Cooperative federalism

Answer 14

System in which both federal government and state government cooperate in solving problems

Question 15

New federalism

Answer 15

System in which the national government restores greater authority back to the states

Question 16

Federalist Papers

Answer 16

Group of 85 essays written by Madison, Hamilton, and Jay for the purpose of persuading the people of New York to adopt the Constitution

Question 17

Formal amendment

Answer 17

A change in the actual wording of the Constitution. Proposed by Congress or national convention, and ratified by the states

Question 18

Implied Powers

Answer 18

Those that are “necessary and proper” to carry out congress’ enumerated powers, and are granted through the elastic clause

Question 19

Indirect Democracy

Answer 19

System in which the people are ruled by their representatives. AKA representative democracy, or republic

Question 20

Inherent Powers

Answer 20

Foreign policy powers (e.g., acquiring territory) held by the national government by virtue of it’s being a national government

Question 21

Informal amendment

Answer 21

A change in the meaning, but not the wording, of the Constitution, e.g., through a court decision such as Brown v. Board

Question 22

Judicial Review

Answer 22

Power of the courts to rule on the Constitutionality of laws and government actions. Established by Marbury v. Madison in 1803

Question 23

Marbury v. Madison

Answer 23

(1803) established the power of judicial review

Question 24

McCulloch v. Maryland

Answer 24

(1819) established principle of national supremacy and validity of implied powers

Question 25

Police powers

Answer 25

Powers of the states to protect the health, safety, morals, and welfare of the public

Question 26

Popular sovereignty

Answer 26

Principle in which ultimate political authority rests with the people

Question 27

Reserved powers

Answer 27

Powers held by the states through the 10th amendment. Any power not granted to the US government is “reserved” for the states.

Question 28

Separation of powers

Answer 28

Principle in which the powers of government are separated among three branches: legislative, executive, and judicial

Question 29

Shays Rebellion

Answer 29

(1786) revolt by Massachusetts farmers seeking relief from debt and foreclosure that was a factor in the calling of the Constitutional Convention.
- showed the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation, and rises the need for revised government

Question 30

Supermajority

Answer 30

A majority greater than a simple majority of one over half. E.g., 3/5, 2/3

Question 31

Unicameral legislature

Answer 31

One -house legislature