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Unit 1- Constitution
AP Government: Constitutional Underpinnings
| Key Terms | Definition |
|---|---|
| Bicameral Legislature | Two-house Legislature |
| Block Grant | Money granted by the federal government to the states for a broad purpose. |
| Categorical Grant | Money granted by the federal government to the states for a narrow purpose. |
| Centralists | Those who favor greater national authority rather than state authority. |
| Checks and Balances | Each branch of government can limit the power of the other two branches. |
| Commerce Clause | Gives Congress the power to regulate commerce among the states, foreign nations, and among Indian tribes. |
| Concurrent Powers | Those held by both Congress and the states. |
| Confederation | System in which sovereign states are only loosely tied to a central government. |
| Decentalists | Those who favor greater state authority rather than national authority. |
| Direct Democracy | System in which the people rule themselves. |
| Elastic Clause | Congress can exercise those powers that are “necessary and proper” for carrying out the enumerated powers. |
| Enumerated Powers | That are specifically granted to Congress in Article 1, section 8 of the Constitution. Also known as expressed powers. |
| Federalism | Constitutional sharing of power between a central government and state governments. |
| Dual Federalism | System in which the national government and state governments are coequal, with each being dominant within its respective sphere. |
| Copperative Federalism | System in which both federal government and state governments cooperate in solving problems. |
| New Federalism | System in which the national government restores greater authority back to the states. |
| Federalist Papers | Group of 85 essays written by Madison, Hamilton, and Jay for the purpose of persuading the people of New York to adopt the Constitution. |
| Formal Amendment | A change in the actual wording of the Constitution. |
| Implied Powers | Those that are “necessary and proper” to carry out Congress’ enumerated powers, and are granted to Congress through the elastic clause. |
| Indirect Democracy | System in which the people are rule by their representatives. Also known as representative democracy, or republic. |
| Inherent Powers | Foreign policy powers held by the national government by virtue of its being a national government. |
| Informal Amendment | A change in the meaning, but not the wording, of the Constitution, most likely through a court decision. |
| Judicial Review | Power of the courts to rule on the constitutionality of laws and government actions. Established by Marbury v. Madison, 1803. |
| Mandates | Requirements imposed by the national government upon the states. Some are unfunded mandates, i.e., they are imposed by the national government, but lack funding. |
| Marbury vs. Madison | 1803: Established the power of judicial review. |
| McCulloch vs. Maryland | 1819: Established principle of national supremacy and validity of implied powers. |
| Police Powers | Powers of the states to protect the public health, safety, morals, and welfare of the public. |
| Popular Sovereignty | Principle in which ultimate political authority rests with the people. |
| Reserved Powers | Powers held by the states through the 10th Amendment. Any power not granted to the US government is “reserved” for the states. |
| Separation of Powers | Principle in which the powers of government are separated among three branches: legislative, executive, judicial. |
| Shay's Rebellion | 1786 revolt by Massachusetts farmers seeking relief from debt and foreclosure that was a factor in the calling of the Constitutional Convention. |
| Supermajority | A majority greater than a simple majority of one over half. |
| Unicameral Legislature | One-house Legislature |
Created by:
mrcoia
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