Federal

Question 1

Unitary system (p. 59):

Answer 1

A system of government where all the powers are held by a central authority. The central government has full control, and any administrative divisions (if they exist) only exercise powers given to them by the central government.

Question 2

Confederation (p. 59):

Answer 2

A union of sovereign states, where the central government has limited power, and most authority rests with the individual member states. The central government operates mainly at the will of the states.

Question 3

Federalism (p. 59):

Answer 3

A system of government in which power is divided between a central authority and constituent political units (such as states or provinces). Both the national and state governments have specific powers reserved to them.

Question 4

Dillon Rule (p. 59):

Answer 4

A legal principle that local governments are limited to powers expressly granted by the state government, implied by these grants, or essential to the local government’s purpose.

Question 5

Devolution (p. 60):

Answer 5

The transfer of power or authority from a central government to a regional or local government. It allows local governments to manage certain affairs independently while still being part of a larger political structure.

Question 6

Delegated powers (p. 60):

Answer 6

Powers specifically assigned to the federal government by the Constitution. These can include expressed, implied, and inherent powers.

Question 7

Implied powers (p. 60):

Answer 7

Powers not explicitly stated in the Constitution but inferred from the expressed powers, especially those necessary to carry out the government’s functions under the “necessary and proper clause” (Article I, Section 8).

Question 8

Supremacy clause (p. 61):

Answer 8

A clause in the U.S. Constitution (Article VI) that establishes that the federal Constitution and federal law generally take precedence over state laws and constitutions.

Question 9

Reserved powers (p. 61):

Answer 9

Powers which are not delegated to the federal government by the Constitution, nor prohibited to the states, are reserved to the states or the people (10th Amendment).

Question 10

Concurrent powers (p. 61):

Answer 10

Powers that are shared by both the federal government and the state governments. Examples include the power to tax, build roads, and create lower courts.

Question 11

Denied powers (p. 61):

Answer 11

Powers that are specifically denied to either the national government or the states. For example, states cannot make treaties, and the national government cannot tax exports.

Question 12

Full faith and credit clause (p. 61):

Answer 12

A clause in the U.S. Constitution (Article IV, Section 1) that requires each state to recognize and honor the public acts, records, and judicial proceedings of every other state.

Question 13

Privileges and immunities (p. 62):

Answer 13

A clause in the U.S. Constitution (Article IV, Section 2) that prevents a state from treating citizens of other states in a discriminatory manner.

Question 14

Extradition (p. 62):

Answer 14

The process by which a person accused or convicted of a crime is transferred from one state or country to another where the crime was committed, to stand trial or serve a sentence.

Question 15

Interstate compact (p. 62):

Answer 15

An agreement between two or more states in the U.S., approved by Congress, that allows them to work together on issues of mutual concern.

Question 16

Dual federalism (p. 63):

Answer 16

A concept of federalism where the federal and state governments remain separate and independent within their own spheres of authority, often referred to as “layer cake” federalism.

Question 17

Cooperative federalism (p. 63):

Answer 17

A concept of federalism where the national, state, and local governments work together to solve common problems, rather than making policies separately. It is often referred to as “marble cake” federalism.

Question 18

Categorical grant-in-aid (p. 65):

Answer 18

Federal funds provided to state or local governments for a specific purpose, with strict limitations on how the money can be spent.

Question 19

Formula grant (p. 65):

Answer 19

A type of grant where federal funds are distributed to states or localities based on a formula (e.g., population or income level).

Question 20

Project grant (p. 65):

Answer 20

A type of categorical grant awarded on the basis of competitive applications, typically for specific projects or research.

Question 21

Matching funds (p. 65):

Answer 21

Federal funds provided to state or local governments only if the recipient government provides some of its own funds to match a portion of the federal money.

Question 22

Block grant (p. 67):

Answer 22

A type of federal grant that provides funds to state and local governments with broad spending discretion. Unlike categorical grants, block grants have fewer restrictions on how the money is used

Question 22

New federalism (p. 67):

Answer 22

A political philosophy that seeks to return more power and responsibility to the states, often through block grants or devolution of authority from the federal government to the states.

Question 23

Revenue sharing (p. 67):

Answer 23

A policy under which the federal government shares a portion of its tax revenue with state and local governments, often with few or no conditions on how the funds are spent.

Question 24

Mandate (p. 68):

Answer 24

A requirement or order from the federal government that states or local governments must comply with, often without providing funds to fulfill the requirement (unfunded mandate)

Question 25

North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) (p. 78):

Answer 25

A trade agreement between the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, aimed at reducing or eliminating tariffs and other trade barriers between the countries. It has since been replaced by the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA).

Question 25

Preemption (p. 68):

Answer 25

A doctrine in which federal law overrides or preempts state or local laws in certain areas of policy, based on the supremacy clause of the Constitution.

Question 26

Transnational regionalism (p. 76):

Answer 26

The cooperation or integration of neighboring countries in a particular region to address common economic, political, or social issues.

Question 27

Maquiladora program (p. 76):

Answer 27

A program in Mexico that allows foreign companies to establish factories (maquiladoras) that import raw materials and export finished goods, often providing employment in border regions.