vocab words

Question 1

Bicameral legislature

Answer 1

two-house legislature.

Question 2

Block grant

Answer 2

money granted by the federal government to the states for a broad
purpose ( e.g., transportation) rather than for a narrow purpose (e.g., school
lunch program).

Question 3

categorical grant

Answer 3

money granted by the federal government to the states for a
narrow purpose ( e.g., school lunch program) rather than for a broad purpose
(e.g., transportation).

Question 4

centralist

Answer 4

those who favor greater national authority rather than state

authority.

Question 5

Checks and balances

Answer 5

system in which each branch of government can limit
the power of the other two branches, e.g., presidential veto of a congressional
law.

Question 6

commerce clause

Answer 6

gives Congress the power to regulate commerce among the
states, with foreign nations, and among Indian tribes. Granted through Article 1,
section 8 of the Constitution.

Question 7

concurrent powers

Answer 7

those held by both Congress and the states, e.g.,

establishing law enforcement agencies.

Question 8

confederation

Answer 8

system in which sovereign states are only loosely tied to a

central government, e.g., the US under the Articles of Confederation.

Question 9

decentralist

Answer 9

those who favor greater state authority rather than national

authority.

Question 10

direct democracy

Answer 10

system in which the people rule themselves.

Question 11

elastic clause

Answer 11

states that Congress can exercise those powers that are
“necessary and proper” for carrying out the enumerated powers, e.g.,
establishment of the first Bank of the United States.

Question 12

enumerated powers

Answer 12

those that are specifically granted to Congress in Article
1, section 8 of the Constitution, e.g., the power to tax. Also known as expressed
powers.

Question 13

federalism

Answer 13

constitutional sharing of power between a central government and
state governments.

Question 14

dual federalism

Answer 14

system in which the national government and state
governments are coequal, with each being dominant within its respective
sphere.

Question 15

cooperative federalism

Answer 15

system in which both federal government and

state governments cooperate in solving problems.

Question 16

new federalism

Answer 16

system in which the national government restores

greater authority back to the states.

Question 17

federalist papers

Answer 17

group of 85 essays written by Madison, Hamilton, and Jay

for the purpose of persuading the people of New York to adopt the Constitution.

Question 18

formal amendment

Answer 18

a change in the actual wording of the Constitution.

Proposed by Congress or national convention, and ratified by the states.

Question 19

implied powers

Answer 19

those that are “necessary and proper” to carry out Congress’

enumerated powers, and are granted to Congress through the elastic clause.

Question 20

indirect democracy

Answer 20

system in which the people are rule by their

representatives. Also known as representative democracy, or republic.

Question 21

inherent powers

Answer 21

foreign policy powers (e.g., acquiring territory) held by the
national government by virtue of its being a national government.

Question 22

informal amendment

Answer 22

a change in the meaning, but not the wording, of the

Constitution, e.g., through a court decisions such as Brown v. Board.

Question 23

judicial review

Answer 23

power of the courts to rule on the constitutionality of laws and
government actions. Established by Marbury v. Madison, 1803.

Question 24

mandates

Answer 24

requirements imposed by the national government upon the states.
Some are unfunded mandates, i.e., they are imposed by the national
government, but lack funding.

Question 25

Marbury v. Madison

McCulloch v. Maryland

Answer 25

1803: established the power of judicial review.
1819: established principle of national supremacy and
validity of implied powers.

Question 26

police powers

Answer 26

powers of the states to protect the public health, safety, morals,
and welfare of the public.

Question 27

popular sovereignty

Answer 27

principle in which ultimate political authority rests with the
people.

Question 28

reserved powers

Answer 28

powers held by the states through the 10 th Amendment. Any

power not granted to the US government is “reserved” for the states.

Question 29

separation of powers

Answer 29

principle in which the powers of government are

separated among three branches: legislative, executive, judicial.

Question 30

shays rebellion

Answer 30

1786 revolt by Massachusetts farmers seeking relief from
debt and foreclosure that was a factor in the calling of the Constitutional
Convention.

Question 31

supermajority

Answer 31

a majority greater than a simple majority of one over half, e.g.,
3/5, 2/3.

Question 32

unicameral legislature

Answer 32

one-house legislature.