Government Vocabulary from Ch. 3 of Gov't by the People
Terms
undefined, object
copy deck
- Devolution Revolution
- A Mov't beginning with the 1994 elections to transfer functions and responsibilities from the Federal gov't to the states.
- Federalism
- A constitutional arrangement whereby power is distributed between a national gov't and subdivisional gov't(state gov'ts). Both levels exercise direct auhtority over individuals.
- Unitary System
- A constitutional arrangement in which power is concentrated in a central gov't.
- Confederation
- A constitutional arrangement in which sovereign nations, or states, by compact, create a central gov'tbut carefully limit its power and do not give it direct authority over individuals.
- Express Powers
- Powers specifially granted to one of the branches of the national gov't by the Constitution.
- Implied powers
- Powers inferred from the express powers that allow Congress to carry out its functions.
- Necessary and Proper Clause
- Clause of the constitution setting forth the implied powers of congress. It states that congress, in addition to its express powers, has the powers to make all laws necessary and proper for carrying out all powers vested by the consitution in the nat'l gov't.
- Inherent powers
- Those powers of the nat'l gov't in the field of foreign affairs that the Supreme Court has declared do not depend upon constitutional grants but rather grow out of the very existence ofthe nat'l gov't.
- Commerce Clause
- The clause (Art. 1) in th constitution that gives congress the power to regulate commerce among the states, with other nations and wit the Indian tribes. Thod clause provides the constitutional basis for most national regualtions of our economy, as well as for much civil rights legislation.
- Federal Mandate
- A requirement posted by the federal gov't as a condition of receipt of federal funds.
- Concurrent Powers
- Powers the constitution gives to both the national and state gov'ts,such as the power to levy taxes.
-
Full Faith and Credit
-----------------------------
Extradition -
Clause in the Constitution requiring each state to recognize the civil judgements rendered by the courts of other statesand to accept their public records and acts as valid.
-----------------------------
Legal process whereby an alleged criminal offenderis surrendered by the officials of the stae in which the crime is alleged to have been committed. -
Interstate Compact
-----------------------------
National Supremacy -
An agreement among two or more states. The constitution requires that most such agreements be approved by COngress.
-----------------------------
Constitutional doctrine that whenever conflict occurs between the constitutioanlly authorized actions of the national gov't and those of a state or local gov't, the actions of the feds take priority. -
Preemption
-----------------------------
Centralists -
The right of a federal law or regulation to preclude enforcement of a state or local law or regualtion.
-----------------------------
Those who favor national action over action at the state and local levels. - Decentralists
- Those who favor state or local action rather than national action.