unit 1 Flashcards
bicameral legislature
two house legislature
block grant
money granted by the federal government to the states for a broad purpose (transportation) rather than for a narrow purpose (school lunch program)
categorical grant
money granted by the federal gov to the states for a narrow purpose rather than for a broad purpose
centralist
those who favor greater national authority rather than state authority
checks and balances
system in which each branch of government can limit the power of the other to branches
commerce clause
gives congress power to regulate commerce among states, with foreign nations, and among Indian tribes; article 1 section 8
concurrent powers
those held by both congress and states (law enforcement agencies)
confederation
system in which sovereign states are only loosely tied to central government
decentralists
those who favor greater state authority rather than national authority
direct democracy
system in which people rule themselves
elastic clause
congress can exercise those powers that are “necessary and proper” for carrying out the enumerated powers
enumerate powers
those that are specifically guaranteed to congress in article 1 section 8 of constitution
federalism
constitutional sharing of power between central government and state governments
duel federalism
system in which the national government and state government are coequal, with each being dominant within its respective fear
cooperative federalism
system in which both federal and state governments cooperate in solving problems