Unit 2 Vocab
New Federalism- fed/state relationship proposed by the Reagan administration that returned administrative powers to the state government
Reserved Powers- powers reserved to the stares that lie at the foundation of a states right to legislate for public health and welfare of its citizens (police powers)
Shay’s Revolution- mad us realize that the articles of confederation were weak and that we needed a new form of government
Majority rule- central premise of direct democracy in which only policies that collectively get support of majority of voters becomes a law
Dual Federalism- belief that having separate and equally powerful levels of government is the best arrangement
Layer Cake Federalism- dual federalism
Bill of Attainder- a law declaring an act illegal without a judicial trial
Dred Scott v. Sandford- concluded that US Congress lacked constitutional authority to bar slavery in territories; promoted states rights
Unitary System- where local and regional governments derive all authority from strong national government
Expressed/Enumerated Powers- seventeen specific powers granted to congress in the constitution
Marble Cake Federalism- cooperative federalism
New Jersey Plan- proposed by group of small states that wants a one house legislature with 1 vote per state, and a supreme judiciary with limited power
Unfunded Mandate- national laws that direct states or local government to comply with federal rules but contain no federal funding to defray the cost of meeting the requirements
Gibbons v. Ogden- court upheld broad congressional power over interstate commerce
McCulloch v. Maryland- court upheld power of national government and denied right of state to tax the bank; courts use of elastic clause paved way for later rulings upholding expansive federal powers
Federalism- a union of states under a central government that have certain individual powers under the central government
Supremacy Clause- mandating that national law is supreme to all other laws passed by states or any other subdivision of government
Federalists- favored a stronger national government and supported US constitution; became 1st political party
Ex Post Facto Law- law past after the fact, making previously legal activity illegal and subject to current penalty is prohibited by the constitution
Mandates- command indicated by an electorates vote for the elected officials to carry out their platforms
Elastic Clause- necessary and proper clause
Nullification- state can refuse to recognize or enforce federal law passed by the constitution; unconstitutional
Virginia Plan- plan brought about by the large states in favor of a strong national government and bicameral legislative
Implied Powers- powers derived from the enumerated powers and the necessary and proper clause’ not specifically stated but considered to be reasonably implied through exercise of delegated powers
Anti-Federalists- favored strong state governments and weak national government; opposed to ratification of constitution
Conditions of Aid- federal rules attached to the grants that states receive; states must agree to follow rules to get grants
Categorical Grants- grants where congress appropriates funds for a specific purpose
Full Faith and Credit Clause- ensures judicial decrees and contracts made in one state will be binding and enforceable in any other state
Privileges and Immunities Clause- guaranteed that the citizens of each state are afforded the same rights as citizens of all other states
Referendum- election where the state legislature submits proposed legislation to the state’s voters for approval
Great Compromise- decision to give each state same number of representatives in senate regardless of size while representation in the House was by population; agreed on bicameral legislature and that the federal government was supreme
Checks and Balances- gives each 3 branches some degree of oversight and control over actions of others
Federalist Papers- series of 85 political papers written by John Jay, Alexander Hamilton, and James Madison in support of ratification of US constitution
Cooperative Federalism- relationship between national and state government that begun with the new deal
Devolution- transfer of power to a lower level
Marbury v. Madison- court first asserted power of judicial review in finding that a congressional statute extending courts original jurisdiction was unconstitutional
Judicial Review- power of courts to review acts of other branches of government and the states
Block Grant- broad grant with few strings attached; given to the states by federal government for specified activities
Concurrent Powers- authority possessed by state and national government that may be exercised concurrently as long as that power is not exclusively within scope of national power or in conflict with national law
Natural Rights- idea that there are inevitable rights that every person has
Declaration of Independence- drafted by Thomas Jefferson proclaimed right of American colonies to separate from Great Britain