Terms Unit 1

Question 1

Bicameral Legislature

Answer 1

two-house legislature

Question 2

Block Grant

Answer 2

money granted by the federal government to the states for a broad purpose (e.g., transportation) rather than for a narrow purpose (e.g., school lunch program).

Question 3

Categorical Grant

Answer 3

money granted by the federal government to the states for a narrow purpose (e.g., school lunch program) rather than for a broad purpose (e.g. transportation).

Question 4

Centralists

Answer 4

those who favor greater national authority rather than state authority.

Question 5

Checks and Balances

Answer 5

system in which each branch of the government can limit the power of the other two branches (e.g., presidential veto of a congressional law).

Question 6

Commerce Clause

Answer 6

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 7

Concurrent powers

Answer 7

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

Question 8

Confederation

Answer 8

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

Question 9

Decentralists

Answer 9

those who favor greater state authority rather than national authority.

Question 10

Direct democracy

Answer 10

system in which people rule themselves.

Question 11

Elastic clause

Answer 11

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 United States).

Question 12

Enumerated powers

Answer 12

those that are specifically guaranteed to Congress in Article 1, section 8 of the Constitution (e.g. the power to tax; also known as expressed powers).

Question 13

Federalism

Answer 13

constitutional sharing of power between a central government and state governments. Different varieties:

Question 14

Dual federalism

Answer 14

system in which the national government and state governments are coequal, with each being dominant within its respective sphere.

Question 15

Cooperative federalism

Answer 15

system in which both federal government and state governments cooperate in solving problems.

Question 16

New Federalism

Answer 16

system in which the national government restores greater authority back to the states.

Question 17

Federalist Papers

Answer 17

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 18

Formal amendment

Answer 18

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

Question 19

Implied powers

Answer 19

those that are “necessary and proper” to carry out Congress’ enumerated powers, and are granted to Congress through the elastic clause.

Question 20

Indirect democracy

Answer 20

system in which the people are ruled by their representatives; also known as representative democracy or republic.

Question 21

Inherent powers

Answer 21

foreign policy powers (e.g., acquiring territory) held by the national government by virtue of its being a national government.

Question 22

Informal amendment

Answer 22

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

Question 23

Judicial review

Answer 23

power of the courts to rule on the constitutionality of laws and government actions; established by Marbury v. Madison, 1803.

Question 24

Mandates

Answer 24

requirements imposed by the national government upon the states, some are

Question 25

unfunded mandates

Answer 25

i.e., they are imposed by the national government, but lack funding.

Question 26

Marbury v. Madison, 1803

Answer 26

established the power of judicial review.

Question 27

McCulloch v. Maryland, 1819

Answer 27

established principle of national supremacy and validity of implied powers.

Question 28

Police powers

Answer 28

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

Question 29

Popular sovereignty

Answer 29

principle in which ultimate political authority rests with the people.

Question 30

Reserved powers

Answer 30

powers held by the states through the 10th Amendment; any power not granted to the US government is “reserved” for the sates.

Question 31

Separation of powers

Answer 31

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

Question 32

Shay’s Rebellion

Answer 32

1786 revolt by Massachusetts farmers seeking relief from debt and foreclosure that was a factor in the calling of the Constitutional Convention.

Question 33

Supermajority

Answer 33

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

Question 34

Unicameral legislature

Answer 34

one-house legislature