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57 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
- 3rd side (hint)
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What is Federalism? |
Federalism is a form of government where a constitution shares power between a central government and regional governments. |
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Is Federalism the same as decentralization? Why or not? |
NO! It is not the same as decentralization. Decentralization would mean a central authority or government is the one to share the power among different regional authorities while remaining supreme. |
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An alternative to a Federal system? |
A Unitary system |
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Why are reasons that Federalism may be considered? |
- The identity of individuals in the different regions - The efficiency of government that it encourages |
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Name some countries with Federal systems. |
The USA, Canada, Mexico, Germany, Australia |
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Name a Caribbean country with a Federal system. |
St. Kitts and Nevis |
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Name some concepts that must be present in a proper understanding of Federalism? |
Constitution, Central Government, Regional Government, Unitary Systems, State/Province. |
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Give three features of a Federal Systems |
- Two orders of government. - Constitutionally protected autonomy of each level of government. - Central Government |
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Give 6 ways in which power is shared in a Federal System (types) |
Dual Federalism Cooperative Federalism Permissive Federalism Coercive Federalism New Federalism |
Layer cake and marble cake |
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What is Dual Federalism? |
In this type of Federalism, there is a strict separation of powers. The powers of the national and state governments are clearly defined, which each layer has it own responsibility. |
Layer cake |
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What is cooperative Federalism? |
In this type of Federalism there is a flexible relationship between the national and state government in which both work together on a variety of issues and programs. |
Marble Cake |
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What is Competitive Federalism? |
This type of Federal systems encourages competition among state and regional governments. They compete against each for residents, businesses, investments, and national funding. |
May the best state win |
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Give 4 key advantages of Federalism? |
1. It acts as an additional check and balance. 2. Promotes administrative efficiency 3. Can better manage and administer large geographical areas 4. It reduces the burden on the central government |
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Give 4 Key disadvantage of Federalism? |
1. It can cause Paralysis/Inability for governments to deal with national issues 2. Protects regional interests 3. Allows local leaders to frustrate national policy (inconsistent) 4. Additional operating cost. |
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How did the Framers in The US view centralized power when inventing Federalism? |
They saw centralized power as threat |
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Which political mechanism/body serves as legal arbiter of the Federal System? |
The U.S Supreme Court |
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What are the powers distributed by the U.S constitution? |
-Delegated/expressed powers - Implied Powers - Inherent Powers, Reserved Powers, Concurrent Powers, Prohibited Powers |
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What are delegated powers? |
These are powers specifically granted to the federal government in Article 1, section 8 of the U.S constitution. |
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What are implied powers? |
These are powers inferred from the elastic "necessary and proper" clause (Article 1, Section 8) |
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What are Reserved/Residual powers? And what guarantees them? |
These are powers reserved for the states that are not granted to the national government. These powers are guaranteed by the 10th Amendmen. |
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During what period was Dual Federalism was present in the US. |
From the founding in the late 1700s to the 1930s |
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During what period in US history was Cooperative Federalism present and why? |
From the 1930s under the new deal by Franklin Roosevelt in the great depression |
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What isone area of law that states have tried ro undermine the power of national government through harsh enforcement? |
This was through immigration policies that were harshly enforcesby Alabama and Arizona |
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What happened when the harsh Arizona law went to the supreme court? |
The courts declared that the national government had the broad, undoubted power over the subject of immigration and the status of aliens |
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Why is Federalism considered a lab for democracy? give an example |
Because states can test out policies in their jurisdictions and if it works out then it can persuade development of the same or similar policies in other states or reach a national level. Georgia was the first state to permit 18 year olds to vote |
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Give one instance if the Supreme Clause in America |
States must abide the national government's minimum wage laws |
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Name a way that national government can regulate state power |
By withholding or threatening to withhold funds |
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Which political tool does Congress use in the regulation of states and how does it work |
They use Federal mandates and this congress requiring states to provide specific programs |
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5 Questions to consider for Federalism |
1. Do the states hold too much power? 2. Who deserves more power and why? 3. When should Federalism exist? 4. Does it reduces the efficacy of government? 5. Does it increase representation? |
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What are some powers delegated to the National government? |
Regulate trade and interstate commerce Declare war Create post offices Coin money |
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What are some powers reserved for state Governments? |
Create local governments Police citizens Oversee primary and elementary education |
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What are some concurrent powers shared by National and State Government? |
Establish courts at their level of government Protect civil rights Conduct elections Protect health |
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What is an argument against Federalism in the US? |
Representatives from the states already sit in congress |
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Why are electoral systems inherently conservative? |
Because the parties in power favor to maintain a status quo from which they benefited, especially if they were over rewarded |
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What feature of democracy has increased concerns for electoral reform? |
Concerns about representation, especially of women and ethnic minorities. |
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When making assessments about electoral system, what should you specify? |
What level of office you're looking at (Parliamentary, presidential, state or local government) |
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What is an electoral formula? |
It determines how votes are counted to allocate seats |
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Why does the majoritarian system raises cause for concern with representation? |
There have been many elections since 1935 where the governing party has not win as much as half of the popular vote |
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What is the aim of the run-off system? |
To consolidate support behind of the victor |
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What are some arguments to explore when looking at electoral systems? |
Government Effectiveness Responsive and Accountable Government Fairness to Minority Parties Social Representation |
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What are some consequences of Electoral systems? |
The impact on Part system The proportionality of votes to seats The production of Single Party or Coalition governments The Provision of Constituency services The impact on Electoral turnout |
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What are the 4 key variables of electoral systems? |
The electoral formula The district magnitude The ballot structure The electoral threshold |
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4 Countries that use First Past The Post? |
Canada, United Kingdom, United States of America, Jamaica |
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What are 3 Key advantages advantages of FPTP system? |
Gives rise to single party government Political parties have to be broad in their appeal Promotes link between constituents and their representatives |
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What are 3 key disadvantages of FPTP system? |
Wasted votes Exclude minority parties Gerrymandering |
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What are 3 Key advantages of PR systems? |
Hardly allow for votes to be wasted. Can avoid unfair results (popular vote issues) Offers greater social representation |
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What are 3 key disadvantages to the PR systems? |
It gives rise to coalition governments Can cause instability in legislature PR can give disproportionate amount of power to minority party |
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Name 5 Countries using PR Sytems |
Belgium Guyana Italy Austria Spain |
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Name 4 Countries using a MMP system |
Germany, Mexico, New Zealand, Hungary |
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What is an ideology? |
An ideology is a set of ideas that guides political or social action in a society based on an evaluation of social conditions |
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Name 6 classical idelogies |
Liberalism Conservatism Socialism Fascism Nationalism Anarchism |
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Name 4 New Idelogies |
Feminism Ecologism Religous fundamentalism Multiculturalism |
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What are the functions of political ideology, use one word to describe each |
Explanatory - HOW Evaluative - Decisive Orientative - Identity Programmatic - Method |
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Name the 3 ideologies on the right of the spectrum? |
Liberalism Socialism Communism |
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Name 3 ideologies on the right of the spectrum |
Conservatism Libertarianism Fascism |
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Name 5 key features of leftist ideologies |
1. They want social/political change and reform 2. Belief that education can change people to a significant degree 3. Roctrine of equality 4. State power/government intervention 5. Separation of church and state |
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What are 5 features of rightist idelogies? |
1. A belief in tradit, stability, minimum change 2. Relationship between church and state 3. Accepts human inequality as being natural 4. Limited role of the government 5. Accepts differences between classes |
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