US Chapter 2

Question 1

Block grant

Answer 1

Transfers of cash from the national to state and local governments in which state and local officials are allowed discretion in spending the money within some broad policy area, such as community development or social services

Question 2

Categorical grant-in-aid

Answer 2

Transfers of cash from the national to state and/or local governments for some specific purpose, usually with the accompanying requirement that the state and local governments match the national money with some funds of their own

Question 3

Confederation

Answer 3

A loose association of states in which dominant political power lies with the member states and not with the central government

Question 4

Cooperative federalism

Answer 4

A model of federalism that features intertwining relationships and shared areas of responsibility between the national and state and local governments

Question 5

Council-manager

Answer 5

A form of government at the local level where an elected council exercises legislative powers and hires a city manager to perform executive and administrative duties

Question 6

Delegated powers

Answer 6

Legal authority that the people in the states granted to the national government for certain purposes by ratifying the Constitution, delegated powers can be wither express or implied

Question 7

Dual federalism

Answer 7

A model of federalism in which national and state governments are separate and independent from each other, with each level exercising its own powers in its own jurisdiction

Question 8

Electoral College

Answer 8

Institution established by the Constitution for electing the president and vice president and whose members–electors chosen by the voters–actually elect the president and vice president

Question 9

Express powers

Answer 9

Powers specifically enumerated in the Constitution as belonging to the national government

Question 10

Federalism

Answer 10

A system of government in which both the national and state governments share power within the same political system

Question 11

Home rule

Answer 11

A legal system in which local governments, especially large cities, can determine for themselves within broad parameters their own powers and functions without interference from the state government

Question 12

Implied powers

Answer 12

Powers of the national government that are not specifically cited in the Constitution, but that are implicit in powers expressly granted by the Consitution

Question 13

Interstate compact

Answer 13

A formal agreement between states designed to solve a problem facing more than one state when such an agreement is necessary because political problems are not limited by geographic boundaries

Question 14

Mayor-council

Answer 14

A form of government at the local level that mirrors the executive-legislative structure at the state and national levels where the mayor has executive powers and the council legislative powers

Question 15

McCulloch vs. Maryland

Answer 15

Supreme Court case in 1819 that established the constitutionality of a national bank and solidified national power by confirming that the federal government can exercise implied powers to carry out legitimate and otherwise constitutional ends

Question 16

New Federalism

Answer 16

A view of federalism that posits an expanded role for state and local governments and holds that state and local governments should be entrusted with greater responsibilities

Question 17

Reserved powers

Answer 17

Powers not specifically prohibited to the states and not delegated to the national government by the Constitution

Question 18

Sixteenth Amendment

Answer 18

Amendment to the Constitution, ratified in 1913, that gave Congress the power to tax incomes and thereby massively increase the potential revenue available to the national government

Question 19

Tenth Amendment

Answer 19

Amendment ratified in 1791 that reserves to the states powers not prohibited to them and not delegated to the national government by the Constitution

Question 20

Unitary system

Answer 20

A system of government in which principal power lies at the level of a national or central government rather than at the level of some smaller unit within the political system