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AP Government Ch. 3

Terms in this set (69)

devolution evolution
The effort to slow the growth of the federal government by returning many functions to the states.
federalism
Constitutional arrangement in which power is distributed between a central government and subdivisional governments, called states in the United States. The national and the subdivisional governments both exercise direct authority over individuals.
unitary system
Constitutional arrangements that concentrated power in a central government.
confederation
Constitutional arrangement in which sovereign nations or states, by compact, create a central government but carefully limit its power and do not give it direct authority over individuals.
express powers
Powers the constitution specifically grants to one of the branches of the national government.
implied powers
Powers inferred from the express powers that allow Congress to carry out its functions.
necessary and proper clause
Clause of the constitution (Article I, Section 8, Clause 3) setting forth the implied powers of congress. It states that congress, in addition to its express powers, has the right to make all laws necessary and proper to carry out all powers the constitution vests in the national government.
inherent powers
The powers of the national government in foreign affairs the supreme court has declared do not depend on constitutional grants but rather grow out of the very existence of the national government.
commerce clause
The clause in the constitution (Article I, Section 8, Clause I) that gives congress the power to regulate all business activities that cross state lines or affect more than one state or other nations.
federal mandate
A requirement that federal government imposes as a condition for receiving federal funds.
concurrent powers
Powers that the constitution gives to both the national and state governments, such as the power to levy taxes.
full faith and credit clause
Clause in the Constitution (Article IV, section I) requiting each state to recognize the civil judgements rendered by the courts of the other states and to accept their public records and acts as valid.
privileges and immunities clause
(U.S. Constitution, Article IV, Section 2, Clause 1) States must extend to citizens of other states the privilege and immunities they grant to their own citizens including the protection of the laws, the right to engage in peaceful occupations, access to the courts, and freedom from discriminatory taxes.
extradition
Legal process whereby an alleged criminal offender is surrendered by the officials of the state in which the crime is alleged to have been committed.
interstate compacts
An agreement among two or more states. Congress must approve most such agreements.
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