| Term | 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 | system in which 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, with foreign nations, and among Indian tribes |
| Concurrent powers | held by both Congress and the states |
| Confederation | system in which sovereign states are only loosely tied to a central government |
| Decentralists | those who favor greater state authority rather than national authority |
| Direct democracy | system in which the people rule themselves |
| Enumerated power | those that are specifically granted to Congress in Article 1, section 8 of the Constitution |
| Federalism | constitutional sharing of power between a central government and state governments |
| Dual federalism | system in which the national government and state governments are coequa |
| 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 |
| 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. Proposed by Congress or national convention, and ratified by the states |
| Implied powers | those that are "necessary and proper" to carry out Congress' enumerated powers |
| Indirect democracy | system in which the people are rule by their representatives |
| Inherent powers | foreign policy powers (e.g., acquiring territory) 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 |
| Judicial review | power of the courts to rule on the constitutionality of laws and government actions |
| Mandates | requirements imposed by the national government upon the states |
| Marbury v. Madison | established the power of judicial review |
| McCulloch v. Maryland | 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 |
| Separation of powers | principle in which the powers of government are separated among three branches |
| Shays' Rebellion | 1786 revolt by Massachusetts farmers seeking relief from debt and foreclosure |
| Supermajority | a majority greater than a simple majority of one over half |
| Unicameral legislature | one-house legislature |
Combine with other sets
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