AP Government Chapter 3: Federalism Flashcards

Regulatory Federalism

• National government establishes requirements for implementation by state and local governments.
• Examples include the 1970 Occupational Safety and Health Act and the 1964 Civil Rights Act.

Revenue Sharing

• Federal tax income distributed to states and municipalities during Nixon's administration.
• Addresses state funding issues directly, offering states discretion in use.

States' Rights

• States retain powers not delegated to the national government by the Constitution.

11th Amendment

• Protects states from being sued in federal court by citizens or foreign states without consent.

10th Amendment

• Confirms reserved powers of states not specifically granted to the federal government.

Fiscal Federalism

• Framework involving federal spending, taxing, and grant provision, essential for state and local government relations.

Grants In Aid

• Financial assistance from the central government to states for specific projects like highways and education.

Extradition

• Process where a state surrenders an alleged criminal to the state where the alleged crime occurred.

Commerce Clause

• Grants Congress authority to regulate business activities that cross state lines or affect multiple states.

Delegated Powers

• Constitutional powers granted specifically to the federal government, detailed in Article 1, Section 8.

Implied Power

• Powers reasonably derived from enumerated powers; not explicitly stated but understood through actions.

US v. Lopez

• Supreme Court ruling in 1994 that limited Congressional authority under the gun-free school zone act regarding interstate commerce.

Gibbons v. Ogden

• 1824 Supreme Court ruling reinforcing the federal government's regulation of interstate commerce against state monopolies.

McCulloch v. Maryland

• Supreme Court ruling affirming federal authority over state actions, particularly tax issues related to a national bank.

Preemption

• Federal law's authority to override or prevent enforcement of state or local laws.

Inherent Powers

• Powers of the President derived from broadly interpreted constitutional statements, grounded in practice rather than strict laws.

Devolution

• Transfer of powers and responsibilities from the federal government back to the states.

Picket-Fence Federalism

• Model where specific programs and policies engage all government levels in a coordinated manner.

Interstate Compact

• Formal agreements between states or between a state and a foreign state, requiring congressional consent.

Necessary & Proper Clause

• Elastic Clause allowing Congress to enact laws deemed necessary for executing its constitutional powers.

Unitary System

• Centralized governmental structure where local governments operate under powers granted by the national government.

Full Faith and Credit

• Constitutional requirement for states to recognize each other's public acts, records, and judicial proceedings.

Expressed Powers

• Specific powers granted to Congress or the President outlined explicitly in the Constitution.

Categorical Grants

• Federal funds designated for specific state and local uses, often with attached conditions.

Dual Federalism

• Government system where federal and state authorities operate independently within their domains.

Block Grants

• Federal funding provided to states or communities for broader program initiatives without stringent conditions.

Supremacy Clause

• Establishes the Constitution, federal laws, and treaties as supreme over conflicting state laws within constitutional limits.

Cooperative Federalism

• Concept advocating collaboration between state and federal governments in addressing societal challenges.

Confederal Systems

• A governmental structure with a league of independent states holding sovereign powers, limiting central authority.

Nullification

• Concept of a state rejecting a federal law deemed unconstitutional.

Federal Mandate

• Legal requirements imposed by federal legislation on states and municipalities, such as the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Elastic Clause

• Article I, Section 8 provision allowing Congress to enact necessary and proper laws for governmental operation.

Concurrent Powers

• Powers exercised simultaneously by both national and state governments.

Enumerated Powers

• Powers assigned exclusively to the national government by Congress.

Reserved Powers

• Powers not granted to the federal government, reserved for states through the 10th Amendment.

Police Power

• Authority of state and local governments to legislate for public health, safety, morals, and general welfare.

Unfunded Mandates

• Federal requirements imposed on states without accompanying financial support, such as provisions in the Americans with Disabilities Act.

10th Amendment

• Affirms that powers not explicitly assigned to the federal government or denied to the states are reserved for the states.