State And Local Government Chapter Two

Front 1

What is Federalism

Back 1

Political system in which national and Regional governments share powers and are considered independent equals.

Front 2

What are Unitary Systems?

Back 2

Political systems in which power is concentrated in a central government.

Front 3

What is a Confederacy?

Back 3

Political system in which power is concentrated in Regional governments.

Front 4

What is Representative government?

Back 4

The term of government in which citizens exercise power indirectly by choosing representatives to legislate on their behalf.

Front 5

What are Enumerated powers

Back 5

Grants of authority explicitly given by the Constitution.

Front 6

What is a National Supremacy Clause?

Back 6

Constitutional Clause that states that federal law takes precedence over all other laws.

Front 7

What is Predemption?

Back 7

The process of the federal government overriding areas regulated by state law.

Front 8

What are Exclusive powers?

Back 8

Powers given by the Constitution solely to the federal government.

Front 9

What are Concurrent powers?

Back 9

Powers that both federal and state governments can exercise. These include the power to tax, borrow, and spend.

Front 10

What are implied powers?

Back 10

Broad but undefined, powers given to the federal government by the Constitution.

Front 11

What is a General Welfare clause?

Back 11

Constitutional Clause that gives Congress implied power through the authority to provide for the general welfare.

Front 12

What is a Necessary and proper clause?

Back 12

Constitutional Clause that gives Congress implied power through the right to pass all laws considered necessary and proper to carry out the federal government's responsibilities as defined by the Constitution.

Front 13

What is a full faith and credit clause?

Back 13

Constitutional Clause that requires states to recognize each other's public records and acts as valid.

Front 14

What is a Privileges and immunities clause?

Back 14

Constitutional Clause that prohibits States from discriminating against citizens of other states.

Front 15

What is the Bill of Rights?

Back 15

The first 10 amendments to the US Constitution which sets limits on the power of the federal government and sets out the rights of individuals in the states.

Front 16

What is the Tenth amendment?

Back 16

Constitutional Amendment guaranteeing that a broad, but undefined, set of powers be reserved for the states and the people.

Front 17

What is the Fourteenth amendment?

Back 17

Constitutional Amendment that prohibits States from depriving individuals of the rights and privileges of citizenship and require states to provide due process and equal protection guarantees.

Front 18

What is Dual Federalism?

Back 18

The idea that state and federal governments have separate and distinct jurisdictions and responsibilities.

Front 19

What are States' Rights?

Back 19

The belief that states should be free to make their own decisions with little interference from the federal government.

Front 20

What is Compact Theory?

Back 20

The idea that the constitution represents an agreement among sovereign states to form a common government.

Front 21

What is Nullification?

Back 21

The process of the states rejecting a federal law and making it invalid within state borders.

Front 22

What is a Secession?

Back 22

The process of a government or political jurisdictions withdrawing from a political system or alliance.

Front 23

What is Nation-Centered federalism?

Back 23

The belief that the nation is the basis of the federal system and that the federal government should take precedence over state governments.

Front 24

What is State-Centered Federalism?

Back 24

The belief that states are the basis of the federal system and that state governments should take precedence over the federal government.

Front 25

What is Cooperative Federalism?

Back 25

The notion that is impossible for state and National governments to have separate and distinct jurisdictions and that both levels of government must work together.

Front 26

What are Grants-in-Aid?

Back 26

Cash Appropriations given by the federal government to the states.

Front 27

What is Centralized Federalism?

Back 27

The notion that the federal government should take the leading role in setting National policy, with state and local governments helping implement the policies.

Front 28

What are Categorical grants?

Back 28

Federal grants in Aid given for specific programs that leave States and localities with little discretion over how to spend the money.

Front 29

What are General revenue sharing grants?

Back 29

Federal grants in Aid given with few constraints, leaving States and localities almost complete discretion over how to spend the money.

Front 30

What are Crosscutting Requirements?

Back 30

Constraints that apply to all federal grants.

Front 31

What crossover sanctions?

Back 31

Federal requirements mandating that Grant recipients pass and enforce certain laws or regulations as a condition of receiving funds.

Front 32

What are Unfunded Mandates?

Back 32

federal laws that direct State action but provide no financial support for that action.

Front 33

What is New Federalism?

Back 33

The belief that states should receive more power and authority and less money from the federal government.

Front 34

What are Block Grants?

Back 34

Federal grants in Aid given for General policy areas that leave States and localities with wide discretion over how to spend the money within the designated policy area.

Front 35

What is Ad Hoc Federalism?

Back 35

The process of choosing a state-centered or Nation centered view of federalism on the basis of political or partisan convenience.

Front 36

What is an Interstate commerce clause?

Back 36

Constitutional Clause that gives Congress the right to regulate interstate commerce. The Clause has been broadly interpreted to give Congress and number of implied powers.

Front 37

What is Sovereign immunity?

Back 37

The right of a government not to be sued without its consent.