Unit 1B

Question 1

Separation of Powers

Answer 1

a doctrine of constitutional law under which the three branches of government (executive, legislative, and judicial) are kept separate

Question 2

Checks and Balances

Answer 2

provides each branch of government with individual powers to check the other branches and prevent any one branch from becoming too powerful

Question 3

Bicameralism

Answer 3

the practice of having two legislative or parliamentary chambers

Question 4

Federalist 51

Answer 4

addresses means by which appropriate checks and balances can be created in government and also advocates a separation of powers within the national government

Question 5

Article V Amendment Process

Answer 5

Article V says that “on the Application of two thirds of the Legislatures of the several States, [Congress] shall call a Convention for proposing amendments.” The convention can propose amendments, whether Congress approves of them or not. Those proposed amendments would then be sent to the states for ratification

Question 6

Expressed Powers

Answer 6

the powers of the national government explicitly listed in the Constitution

Question 7

Concurrent Powers

Answer 7

powers that are shared by both the federal government and state governments

Question 8

Reserved Powers

Answer 8

powers that are not specifically granted to the federal government by the Constitution

Question 9

Implied Powers

Answer 9

powers Congress exercises that the Constitution does not explicitly define, but are necessary and proper to execute the powers

Question 10

Necessary and Proper Clause

Answer 10

congressional power encompasses all implied and incidental powers that are conducive to the beneficial exercise of an enumerated power

Question 11

10th Amendment

Answer 11

says that the Federal Government only has those powers delegated in the Constitution

Question 12

Supremacy Clause

Answer 12

establishes that the federal constitution, and federal law generally, take precedence over state laws, and even state constitutions

Question 13

Commerce Clause

Answer 13

gives Congress broad power to regulate interstate commerce and restricts states from impairing interstate commerce

Question 14

McCulloch v. Maryland

Answer 14

the court decided that the Federal Government had the right and power to set up a Federal bank and that states did not have the power to tax the Federal Government. Marshall ruled in favor of the Federal Government and concluded, “the power to tax involves the power to destroy”

Question 15

U.S. v. Lopez

Answer 15

Lopez, 514 U.S. 549 (1995) Gun possession is not an economic activity that has any impact on interstate commerce, whether direct or indirect, so the federal government cannot base a law prohibiting gun possession near schools on the Commerce Clause

Question 16

Fiscal Federalism

Answer 16

operates through the various federal taxes, grants, and transfers that occur in addition to states and localities

Question 17

Categorical Grants

Answer 17

money given to state and local governments for programs and projects with specific limitations on how that money is to be spent

Question 18

Block Grants

Answer 18

federal funds earmarked for specific state or local programs

Question 19

Revenue Sharing

Answer 19

a government unit’s apportioning of part of its tax income to other units of government

Question 20

Unfunded Mandates

Answer 20

a statute or regulation that requires a state or local government to perform certain actions, yet provides no money for fulfilling the requirements

Question 21

Devolution

Answer 21

the transfer of power from a central government to subnational (e.g., state, regional, or local) authorities

Question 22

Cooperative Federalism

Answer 22

also known as marble-cake federalism, is defined as a flexible relationship between the federal and state governments in which both work together on a variety of issues and programs

Question 23

Dual Federalism

Answer 23

also known as layer-cake federalism or divided sovereignty, is a political arrangement in which power is divided between the federal and state governments in clearly defined terms, with state governments exercising those powers accorded to them without interference from the federal government