Unit 1 Flashcards
Block Grant
Large amount of money provided by the government for a broad reason
Example: education
Bicameral Legislature
2 house legislature–>Congress is made up of both the Senate and House of Representatives
Categorical Grant
Amount of money provided by the government for a more specific reason
Example: science department
Centralist
Someone who supported a strong central/national government (federalist)
Checks and Balances
A system devised so that each branch of government can “check” another branch so that no one is able to abuse their power
Example: president can veto a law
Commerce Clause
Congress has the ability to regulate state/foreign trade
Concurrent Powers
Powers that are shared with both the national and state governments
Example: elections or taxes
Confederation
Group of people who work together as a government
Example: the southern states when they seceded from the union
Decentralists
People who supported a government where states had more power (anti-federalists)
Direct Democracy
When the people directly make changes to legislation and public policy
Example: Greek government (long ago)
Elastic Clause (Necessary and Proper Clause)
Clause allows the national government to make any laws “necessary” for running the government constitutionally
Example: Patriot Act after 9/11 (necessary because terrorism is now a serious threat/problem)
Electorate
People who are able to vote
Enumerated Powers
Powers listed directly in the constitution
Example: congress has the power to declare war
Federalism
The division between state and national government in which they share powers
Example: Dual, New and Coopertive Federalism
Dual Federalism
National government is more limited and the powers are strictly divided between national/state government (state has more power)
Example: layer cake
Cooperative Federalism
When federal and state governments work together and share power to solve problems for the good of the people
Example: marble cake
New Federalism
Much more limited central government (provides more power to states)–>with Reagan
Federalist Papers
Written by Madison, he wrote newspaper articles trying to convince NY to support and ratify the constitution
Example: No. 10- factions
Formal Amendment
2/3 of congress vote and 3/4 of the states ratify an amendment
Indirect Democracy
When people indirectly participate in government by voting for politicians
Aka- representative republic
Informal Amendment
Elastic Clause allows for the government to make laws as time goes on and society calls for new rules and laws
Inherent Powers
Deals with foreign affairs (national government)
Judicial Review
Power of the courts to deem a law or presidential action to be unconstitutional
Marbury vs Madison
Court case that established judicial review–>Adams stacked the judges before leaving his term as president and Jefferson refused to deliver the court commissions so Marbury filed for a writ of mandamus, but it was denied and considered unconstitutional
McCulloch vs Maryland
Declared national supremacy when the state of Maryland tried to tax the national government–>in a tied dispute the national government has more power/authority
Policing Powers
Powers given to the local government
Example: speeding or parking
Popular Sovereignty
Government by the people
Reserved Powers
Powers reserved for the state because they were not declared in the Constitution to the national government
Seperation of Powers
3 branches–>
Executive
Legislative
Judicial
Shay’s Rebellion
An uprising by the farmers who felt that they were being treated unfairly through the Articles
Supermajority
2/3
Unicameral
One house–>British Parliament
