Federalism Flashcards
federalism
A way of organizing a nation so that two or more levels of government have formal authority over the same land and people. It’s a system of shared power between units of government
unitary government
A way of organizing a nation so that all power resides in the central government. Most governments today are unitary governments.
intergovernmental relations
Workings of the federal system - the entire set of interactions among nation, state, and local governments
supremacy clause
Article VI of the Constitution, which makes the Constitution, national laws, and treaties supreme over state laws when the national government is acting within its constitutional limits
Tenth Amendment
The constitutional amendment stating that “the powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states respectively or to the people”
McCulloch v. Maryland
An 1819 Supreme Ct. decision that established supremacy of the national government over state governments. In deciding the case, Chief Justice John Marshall and his colleagues held that Congress had certain implied powers in addition to the enumerated powers found in the Constitution
enumerated powers
Powers of the federal government that are specifically addressed in the Constitution for Congress, these powers are listed in Article I, Section 8, and includes the power to coin money, regulate its value, and impose taxes
implied powers
Powers of the federal government that go beyond those enumerated in the Constitution. The Constitution states that Congress has the power to “make all laws necessary and proper for carrying into execution” the powers enumerated in Article I
elastic clause
Final paragraph of Article I, Section 8, of the constitution, which authorizes Congress to pass all laws “necessary and proper” to carry out the enumerated powers
Gibbons v. Ogden
A landmark case decided in 1824 in which the Supreme Ct. interpreted very broadly the clause in Article I, Section 8, of the Constitution giving Congress the power to regulate interstate commerce, encompassing virtually every form of commercial activity
full faith and credit clause
A clause in Article IV, Section I, of the Constitution requiring each state to recognize the official documents and civil judgments rendered by the courts of other states
extradition
A legal process whereby an alleged criminal offender is surrendered by the officials of one state in which the crime is alleged to have been committed
privileges and immunities
A clause Article I, Section 2, of the constitution according citizens of each state most of the privileges of citizens of other states
dual federalism
layer cake
A system of government in which both the states and the national government remain supreme within their own spheres, each responsible for some policies
cooperative federalism
marble cake
A system of government in which powers and policy assignments are shared between states and the national government. May also share costs, administration, and even blame for programs that work poorly.
fiscal federalism
Federal categorical grants distributed according to a formula specified in legislation or in administrative regulations
formula grants
Federal categorical grants distributed according to a formula specified in legislation or in administrative regulations
project grants
Federal categorical grants given for specific purposes and awarded on the basis of the merits of applications
categorical grants
Federal grants that can be used only for specific purposes or “categories” of state and local spending. They come w/ string attached , such as nondiscrimination provisions
block grants
Federal grants given more or less automatically to states or communities to support broad programs in areas such as community development and social services
Commerce Clause
refers to Article 1, Section 8, Clause 3 of the U.S. Constitution, which gives Congress the power “to regulate commerce with foreign nations, and among the several states, and with the Indian tribes.”
Formal amendment
A written change in the Constitution. Has been approved by Congress and the States
Informal amendment
Results from the daily workings of the government. Is not written in the Constitution 1) legislation from Congress 2) Presidential action 3)Decision from the Supreme Court 4)Party practices 5) customs/ traditions
