vocab 1 federal system

Question 1

checks and balances

Answer 1

individual powers each branch has to check another branch to balance their overall power

Question 2

federalism

Answer 2

individual powers each branch has to check another branch to balance their overall power

Question 3

mandate

Answer 3

a requirement or an order from the central government that all state and local government must comply with or risk losing other federal funds.

Question 4

block grant

Answer 4

large chunks of money given to local governments by the federal government with few strings attached.

Question 5

categorical grant

Answer 5

chunks of money given by the federal government to state and local governments that have rules about how they are awarded and spent.

Question 6

federal revenue sharing

Answer 6

during 1972–86, money collected in federal taxes was given to state and local governments.

Question 7

necessary and proper clause

Answer 7

Also known as the “elastic” clause, it states that Congress can exercise those powers that are. “necessary and proper” for carrying out the enumerated powers (Article 1).

Question 8

commerce clause

Answer 8

Gives Congress the right to regulate interstate commerce (Article 1)

Question 9

supremacy clause

Answer 9

States may not make laws that undermine federal law (Article 6).

Question 10

linkage institutions

Answer 10

institutions that connect people to their government (Special interest groups, elections, the media, and political parties)

Question 11

seperation of powers

Answer 11

dividing the jobs each branch has so no branch will become too powerful

Question 12

cooperative federalism

Answer 12

the federal government provides grants to states in order to influence them in areas beyond enumerated federal power.

Question 13

exclusive powers

Answer 13

the federal government provides grants to states in order to influence them in areas beyond enumerated federal power.

Question 14

concurrent powers

Answer 14

the federal government provides grants to states in order to influence them in areas beyond enumerated federal power.

Question 15

implied powers

Answer 15

powers open to interpretation, e.g. the necessary and proper clause

Question 16

enumerated powers

Answer 16

powers clearly defined in the Constitution

Question 17

project grant

Answer 17

a grant given for a specific project in a state

Question 18

formula grant

Answer 18

a grant given based on a need formula to any state that qualifies

Question 19

devolution

Answer 19

Using block grants to move power out of the hands of the federal government and back to the states.