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UNITARY SYSTEM A centralized governmental system in which ultimate governmental authority rests in the hands of the national, or central government CONFEDERAL SYSTEM A system consisting of a league of independent states, each having essentially sovereign powers ENUMERATED POWERS Powers specifically granted to the national government by the Constitution ELASTIC CLAUSE The clause in Article 1, Section 8, that grants Congress the power to do whatever is necessary to executes its specifically delegated powers POLICE POWER The authority to legislate for the protection of the health, morals, safety, & welfare of the people CONCURRENT POWERS Powers held jointly by the national & state governments SUPREMACY CLAUSE The constituional provision that makes the Constituion & federal laws superior to all conflicting state & local laws INTERSTATE COMPACT An agreement between two or more states COMMERCE CLAUSE The section of the Constituion in which Congress is given the power to regulate trade among the state & with foreign countries DUAL FEDERALISM A model of federalism in which the states & the nation government each remain supreme within their own spheres COOPERATIVE FEDERALISM A model of federalism in which the states & the national government cooperate in solving problems PICKET-FENCE FEDERALISM A model of federalism in which specific programs & policies (depicted as vertical pickets in a picket fence) involve all levels of government - national, state, & local (depicted by the horizontal boards in a picket fence) CATEGORIAL GRANTS Federal grants to state or local governments that are for specific programs or projects BLOCK GRANTS Federal programs that provide funds to state & local governments for broad functional areas, such as criminal justice or mental-health programs FEDERAL MANDATE A requirement in federal legislation that forces states & municipalities to comply with certain rules DEVOLUTION The transfer of powers from a national or central government to a state or local government