Ap Gov't General

Front 1

Bicameral Legislature

Back 1

Two house legislature

Front 2

Block Grant

Back 2

Money granted by the federal government to the states for a broad purpose (ex. Transportation) rather than for a narrow purpose (ex. School lunch program)

Front 3

Categorical grant

Back 3

Money granted by the federal government to the states for a narrow purpose (ex. School lunch program) rather than for a broad purpose (ex. Transportation)

Front 4

Centralists

Back 4

Those who favor greater national authority rather than state authority

Front 5

Checks and Balances

Back 5

System in which each branch of government can limit the power of the other two branches (ex. Presidential veto of a Congressional law)

Front 6

Commerce Clause

Back 6

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

Front 7

Concurrent Powers

Back 7

Those held by both Congress and the states (ex. establishing law-enforcement agencies)

Front 8

Confederation

Back 8

System in which sovereign states are only loosely tied to a central government (ex. The US under the Articles of Confederation)

Front 9

Decentralists

Back 9

Those who favor greater state authority rather than national authority.

Front 10

Direct democracy

Back 10

System in which the people rule themselves

Front 11

Elastic Clause

Back 11

States that Congress can exercise those powers that are "necessary and proper" for carrying out the enumerated powers (ex. Establishment of the first Bank of the United States)

Front 12

Enumerated powers

Back 12

Those that are specifically granted to Congress in Article I, section 8 of the Constitution (ex. The power to tax) A.k.a. expressed powers

Front 13

Federalism

Back 13

Constitutional sharing of power between a central government and state governments, different varieties.

Front 14

Dual federalism

Back 14

System in which the national government and state government are coequal with each being dominant with its respective sphere.

Front 15

Cooperative federalism

Back 15

System in which both the federal government and state governments cooperate in solving problems.

Front 16

New federalism

Back 16

System in which the national government restores greater authority back to the states

Front 17

Federalist Papers

Back 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.

Front 18

Formal amendment

Back 18

A change in the actual wording of the Constitution. Proposed by Congress or national convention, and ratified by the states.

Front 19

Implied powers

Back 19

Those that are "necessary and proper" to carry out Congress enumerated powers, and are granted to Congress through the elastic clause.

Front 20

Indirect democracy

Back 20

System in which the people are ruled by their representatives. A.k.a. representative democracy or republic

Front 21

Inherent powers

Back 21

Foreign-policy powers (ex. Acquiring territory) held by the national government by virtue of its being a national government

Front 22

Informal amendment

Back 22

A change in the meaning, but not the wording, of the Constitution (ex. Through a court decision such as Brown v. Board)

Front 23

Judicial review

Back 23

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

Front 24

Mandates

Back 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)

Front 25

Marbury v. Madison

Back 25

1803, established judicial review

Front 26

McCulloch v. Maryland

Back 26

1819; established principle of national supremacy and validity of implied powers

Front 27

Police powers

Back 27

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

Front 28

Popular sovereignty

Back 28

Principal in which ultimate political authority rests with the people

Front 29

Reserved powers

Back 29

Powers held by the states through the 10th amendment. Any power not granted to the US government is "reserved" for the states.

Front 30

Separation of powers

Back 30

Principal in which the powers of government are separated among three branches: legislative, executive, judicial.

Front 31

Shay's Rebellion

Back 31

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

Front 32

Supermajority

Back 32

A majority greater than a simple majority of one over half (ex. 3/5, 2/3)

Front 33

Unicameral leguslature

Back 33

One house legislature