ap gov chapter 3

Federalism

Federalism

Organizing a nation so that 2+ levels of government have formal authority over the same land/people. A system of shared power between units of government.

Unitary Government

Organizing a nation so that all power resides in the central government.

Intergovernmental Relations

The workings of the federal system— the entire set of interactions among national, state, and local governments, including regulations, transfers of funds, and the sharing of information.

Supremacy Clause

In Article VI, the Constitution, national laws, and treaties supreme over state laws as long as the national government is acting within its constitutional limits.

10th Amendment

the Federal Government only has those powers delegated in the Constitution

McCullouch vs. Maryland

Supreme Court decision that established the supremacy of the national government over state government. John Marshall held that Congress had certain powers in addition to powers enumerated in the Constitution.

Enumerated Powers

Powers of the federal government that are specifically addressed in the Constitution.

Implied Powers

Powers of the federal government that go beyond the Constitution, of the statement that Congress has power to “make all laws necessary and proper for carrying out execution.”

Elastic Clause

The final paragraph of Article I, Section 8, of the Constitution, which authorizes Congress to pass all laws “necessary and proper” to carry out the enumerated powers.

full faith and credit

A clause in Article IV of the Constitution requiring each state to recognize the public acts, records, and judicial proceedings of all other states.

extradition

A legal process whereby a state surrenders a person charged with a crime to the state in which the crime is alleged to have been committed.

Privileges and Immunities

The provision of the Constitution according to the privileges of citizens of each state

dual federalism

Both of the states and the national government remain supreme within their own spheres, each responsible for some policies.

cooperative federalism

Powers and policy assignments are shared between states and the national government

devolution

Transferring responsibility for policies from the federal government to state and local governments.

Fiscal federalism

The pattern of spending, taxing, and providing grants in the federal system; cornerstone of the national government’s relationship with state and local governments.

categorical grants

Federal grants that can be used only for specific purposes of state and local spending. Also includes strings; such as nondiscrimination provisions.

project grant

Federal categorical grant given for specific purposes and awarded on the basis of the merits of applications.

formula grant

Federal categorical grants distributed according to a formula specified in legislation or in administrative regulations.

block grant

Federal grants given more or less automatically to states or communities to support broad programs in areas such as community development and social services.