FEDERALISM KEY VOCABULARY TERMS

FEDERALISM a/k/a Federal System Constitutional Principle – 2 parts 1 st - Divide all government power between the 3 LEVELS of Government = National, state and Local 2 nd – Each level has direct authority over people’s lives

FEDERALISM

UNITARY SYSTEM Form of Government in which all government power is in the hands of the national government

CONFEDERATION A form of government organization in which sovereign (independent) states unite together for some common purpose such as defense or economic benefit Opposite of Unitary

DELEGATED POWERS All of those powers set out in the US Constitution whether it is for the national or state governments or for the people

EXPRESS POWERS a/k/a Enumerated Powers All those powers specifically set out in the US Constitution for the national government See articles 1 – 2 – 3

Implied Powers a/k/a The Elastic Clause or the Necessary and proper Clause of Article 1, Section 8, Clause 18 These powers are not specifically set out in the US Constitution but are implied to exist in order for the national government to carry out its express powers

Implied Powers a/k/a The Elastic Clause or the Necessary and proper Clause of Article 1, Section 8, Clause 18 National gov’t can do everything necessary and proper to carry out its functions

INHERENT POWERS More powers granted to the national government by Supreme Court interpretation of the Constitution such as in the area of foreign policy

RESERVED POWERS a/k/a The 10 th Amendment of the Constitution All powers not specifically granted to the national government are reserved for the states under the 10 th Amendment

RESERVED POWERS a/k/a The 10 th Amendment of the Constitution

CONCURRENT POWERS Those powers shared by both the national and state government Nationalstates shared

MANDATE Rules imposed by the national government on the states Sometimes these rules or obligations are set as conditions on the states receipt of federal aid $$$$

FISCAL FEDERALISM The process of the national government using its federal tax revenues to mandate specific policy programs at the state and local level EX: NCLB and the drinking age

FULL FAITH AND CREDIT a/k/a Article IV of the Constitution Each state is required to give full credit and support to the public acts, records and judicial proceedings of every other state

SUPREMACY CLAUSE a/k/a Article VI of the Constitution The US Constitution and federal laws are supreme over and take precedence over state and local laws EX: Medical Marijuana

BLOCK GRANTS Broad grants of federal $ to states for activities or programs with very few strings or requirements Very flexible for the states on how they spend money

BLOCK GRANTS EXAMPLES: WELFARE, CHILD CARE, education, NCLB, SOCIAL SERVICES, HEALTH SERVICES