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Government
Unit 1 Vocab
31
Other
12th Grade
10/03/2010

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Term
Block Grant
Definition
money granted by the federal government to the states for a broad purpose (e.g., transportation) rather than for a narrow purpose (e.g., school luncg program)
Term
Categorical Grant
Definition
money granted by the federal government to the states for a narrow purpose (e.g., school lunch program) rather than for a broad pupose (e.g., transportation.
Term
Centralists
Definition
those who favor greater national authority rather than state authority
Term
Checks and Balances
Definition
system in which each branch of government can limit the power of the other two branches, e.g., presidential veto of a congressional law
Term
Commerce Clause
Definition
gives congress the power to regulate commerce among the states, with foreign nations, and among Indian tribes. Granted through Article 1, section 8 of the constitution
Term
Concurrent Powers
Definition
those held by both congress and the states, e.g., establishing law enforcement agencies
Term
Confederation
Definition
system in which sovereign states are only loosely tied to a central government, e.g., the US under the Articles of Confederation
Term
Decentralists
Definition
those who favor greater state authority rather than national authority
Term
Direct Democracy
Definition
system in which the people rule themselves
Term
Elastic Clause
Definition
states that Congress can exercise those powers that are "necessary and proper" for carrying out the enumerated powers, e.g., establishment of the first Bank of the US
Term
Enumerated Powers
Definition
those that are specifically granted to Congress in Article 1, section 8 of the constitution, e.g., the power to tax. Also known as expressed powers
Term
Federalism
Definition
constitutional sharing of power between a central government and state governments
Term
Dual Federalism
Definition
system in which the national government and state governments are coequal, with each being dominant within its respective sphere
Term
Cooperative Federalism
Definition
system in which both federal government and state governments cooperate in solving problems
Term
New Federalism
Definition
system in which the national government restores greater authority back to the states
Term
Federalist Papers
Definition
group of 85 essays written by Madison, Hamilton, and Jay, for the purpose of persuading the people of New York to adopt the Constitution
Term
Formal Amendment
Definition
a change in the actual wording of the constitution. Proposed by Congress or national convention, and ratified by the states.
Term
Implied Powers
Definition
those that are "necessary and proper" to carry out Congress' enumerated powers, and are granted to Congress through elastic clause
Term
Indirect Democracy
Definition
system in which the people are rule by their representatives. Also known as representative democracy, or Republic.
Term
Inherent Powers
Definition
foreign policy powers (e.g., acquiring territory) held by the national government by virtue of its being a national government
Term
Informal Amendment
Definition
a change in the meaning, but not the wording, of the Constitution, e.g., through a court decision such as Brown v. Board of Education
Term
Judicial Review
Definition
power of the courts to rule on the constitutionality of laws and government actions. Established by Marbury v. Madison, 1803.
Term
Mandates
Definition
requirements imposed by the national government upon the states. Some are unfunded mandates, i.e., they are imposed by the national government, but lacking funding.
Term
Marbury V. Madison
Definition
1803, established the power of judicial review
Term
McCulloch v. Maryland
Definition
1819, established principle of national supremacy and validity of implied powers
Term
Police Powers
Definition
powers of the states to protect the public health, safety, morals and welfare of the public
Term
Popular Sovereignty
Definition
principle in which ultimate political authority rests with the people
Term
Reserved Powers
Definition
powers held by the states through the 10th amendment. Any power not granted to the US goverment is "reserved" by the states
Term
Separation of Powers
Definition
principle in which the powers of government are separated among three branches, legislative, executive, judicial
Term
Shays' Rebellion
Definition
1786 revolt by Massachusetts farmers seeking relief from debt and foreclosure that was a factor in the calling of the Constitutional Convention
Term
Supermajority
Definition
a majority greater than a simple majority of one over half, e.g., 3/5, 2/3
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