Unit 2 Test Flashcards
Federalism:
shared power between 2 levels of government - national and subnational
Competitive federalism
States complete w/each other for citizens and businesses
Unitary system
An alternative to federalism; some nations do not divide powers - the central government decides everything
[Interstate] commerce clause
anytime anything goes across state lines, national government can make the rules
Power of the purse
Congress gives $ to states (can use this to bribe states)
Implied powers
Necessary and Proper Clause
10th amendment
reserved clause “powers not delegated to the US…”; everything the National government can’t decide is up to the States
Police powers
capacity of the states to regulate behavior and enforce order within their territory
Fiscal federalism
division between governmental functions and the financial relationship between them
Categorical grant
grants issued by Congress which can be spent for narrowly defined purposes
Block grant
grant from central gov. Which a local authority can allocate to a wide range of services
Benefits/costs of federalism
Permits regional Differences, 2. Permits innovation and experimentation, 3. Provides many avenues for change
Preemption laws
if the State doesn’t like liberal city laws, it can pass pre-emption laws to prevent cities from enacting specific pieces of legislation
Sanctuary cities
broad term that applies to cities that protect undocumented residents in various ways; for example; they can provide city resources to all residents
Enumerated/expressed powers:
expressed powers are directly stated in the constitution. Enumerated powers are the fancy word for that: collect taxes, coin money, declare war, make rules for military conduct, and raise and maintain armies
Necessary and proper clause:
Congress has the power to make all laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into execution the foregoing Powers
Supremacy clause
national laws trump state laws
Civil liberties
religion, speech, press, assembly, to petition the government
Bill of Rights:
the first 10 amendments to the US Constitution - freedom of speech, assembly, and worship
Habeas corpus:
right to appear before a court
14th Amendment
equal protection clause, states can’t discriminate unreasonably against groups
Due Process clause/due process of law:
fair treatment through the normal judicial system
Stouffer study
1950s study on civil rights during the cold war that asked, “what do you think about freedom of speech” and then, “should we allow Communists, Socialsists, and Athiests to speak in public?” 27% said yes to communists, 60% to Socialists, and 37% to Athiests.
Limits to free speech
fighting words = immediate threat to safety, libel/slander = harmful, false statements, Commercial Speech = can be limited for public good, like no cigarette commercials on TV or false advertising, Obscenity = difficult to define
Imminent lawless action test
speech is not protected by the first amendment if the speaker intends to incite a violation of the law that is imminent and likely
Antifa
anti-fascist action; a group that violently resists the far right and white supremacist ideologies
Microagression
an indirect, subtle, and sometimes even unintentional discrimination against a minority group