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AP GO PO
AP Government and Politics
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Block grant | $ granted by the federal government to the states for a broad purpose (e.g., transportation) rather than for a narrow purpose (e.g., school lunch program). |
| Categorical grant | $ granted by the federal government to the states for a narrow purpose (e.g., school lunch program) rather than for a broad purpose (e.g., transportation). |
| Centralists | 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 two branches, e.g., presidential veto of a congressional law. |
| Commerce clause | 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. |
| Concurrent powers | those held by both Congress and the states, e.g., establishing law enforcement agencies. |
| Decentralists | those who favor greater state authority rather than national authority. |
| Direct democracy | system in which the people rule themselves. |
| Elastic clause | 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 United States. |
| Enumerated powers | those that are specifically granted to Congress in Article 1, section 8 of the Constitution, e.g., the power to tax. Also know 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. |
| Cooperative 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. |
| Indirect democracy | system in which the people are ruled by their representatives. Also know as representative democracy, or republic. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| Confederation | system in which sovereign states are only loosely tied to a central government, e.g., the US under the Articles of Confederation |
| Formal amendment | a change in the actual wording of the Constitution. Proposed by Congress or a national convention, and ratified by the states. |
| Implied powers | those that are "necessary and proper" to carry out Congress' enumerated powers, and are granted to Congress through the elastic clause. |
| Informal amendment | a change in the meaning, but not the wording, of the Constitution, e.g., through a court decision such as Brown v. Board. |
| Judicial review | power of the courts to rule on the constitutionality of laws and government actions. Established by Marbury v. Madison, 1803. |
| 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 (no way) of one over half, e.g., 3/5 or 2/3. |
| Unicameral legislature | one-house legislature. |