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