Chapter 3 Key Terms

Question 1

block grant

Answer 1

A federal grant that provides funds to a state or local government for a general functional area, such as criminal justice or mental-health programs.

Question 2

categorical grant

Answer 2

A federal grant to a state or local government for a specific program or project.

Question 3

commerce clause

Answer 3

The section of the Constitution in which Congress is given the power to regulate trade among the states with foreign countries.

Question 4

concurrent powers

Answer 4

Powers held jointly by the national and state governments.

Question 5

confederal system

Answer 5

A system consisting of a league of independent states, in which the central government created by the league has only limited powers over the states.

Question 6

cooperative federalism

Answer 6

A model of federalism in which the states and the national government cooperate in solving problems.

Question 7

devolution

Answer 7

The transfer of powers from a national or central government to a state or local government.

Question 8

dual federalism

Answer 8

A model of federalism that looks on national and state governments as co-equal sovereign powers. Neither the state government nor the national government should interfere in the other’s sphere.

Question 9

elastic clause, or necessary and proper clause

Answer 9

The clause in Article I, Section 8, that grants Congress the power to do whatever is necessary to execute its specifically delegated powers.

Question 10

enumerated powers

Answer 10

Powers specifically granted to the national government by the Constitution. The first seventeen clauses of Article I, Section 8, specify most of the enumerated, or expressed, powers of the national government.

Question 11

federal mandate

Answer 11

A requirement in federal legislation that forces states and municipalities to comply with certain rules.

Question 12

police power

Answer 12

The authority to legislate for the protection of the health, morals, safety, and welfare of the people. In the health, morals, safety, and welfare of the people. In the United States, most police power is reserved to the states.

Question 13

fiscal federalism

Answer 13

A process by which funds raised through taxation or borrowing by one level of government (usually the national government) are spent by another level (typically, state or local governments).

Question 14

unitary system

Answer 14

A centralized governmental system in which ultimate governmental authority rests in the hands of the national, or central, government.