Chapter 3 Vocabulary

1. Federalism--A system of government under which significant government powers are divided
between the central government and smaller governmental units. National government and state
governments both have assigned powers.

2. Cooperative Federalism--A system of government in which powers and policy assignments

are shared between states and the national government. They may also share costs,
administration, and even blame for programs that work poorly. This is also known as ‘marble
cake’ federalism.

3. Dual Federalism--Where the states and national government each remain supreme within
their own spheres of power. This is also known as ‘layer cake’ federalism.

4. Fiscal Federalism—the process collecting revenue (taxes), spending, and providing grants in
the federal system.

5. Intergovernmental Relations--Entire set of interactions among national, state, and local

governments.

6. Supremacy Clause--Article VI of the Constitution, which makes the Constitution, national

laws, and treaties supreme over state laws when the national government is acting within is
constitutional limits.

7. Enumerated Powers--Powers of the federal government that are specifically addressed in the
Constitution; for Congress, these powers are listed in Article I, Section 8, and include the power
to coin money, regulate its value, and impose taxes.

8. Implied Powers--Powers of the federal government that go beyond those enumerated in the
Constitution. The Constitution states that Congress has the power to “make all laws necessary
and proper for carrying into execution” the powers enumerated in Article I.

9. Elastic Clause--The final paragraph of Article I, Section 8, of the Constitution, which

authorizes Congress to pass all laws ‘necessary and proper” to carry out the enumerated powers.

10. Full Faith and Credit--A clause in article IV, Section 1, of the Constitution requiring each
state to recognize the official documents and civil judgments rendered by the courts of other
states.

11. Extradition--A legal process whereby an alleged criminal offender is surrendered by the
officials of one state to officials of the state in which the crime is alleged to have been
committed.

12. Privileges and Immunities-- This clause forbids a state from unjustly depriving citizens
from other states of any rights.
13. Tenth Amendment-- Specifies that powers not delegated to the national government are
reserved for the state government or the people.

14.Gibbons v. Ogden--The Supreme Court case involving steamboats which further extended
Congress’ power to regulate interstate and international commerce by defining commerce very
broadly to include any type of commercial activity.

15.McCulloch v Maryland—The Supreme Court case which established the supremacy of the
national government through the enumerated and implied powers of Congress.

16. Categorical Grants--Federal grants that can be used only for specific purposes, or
“categories,” of state and local spending. They come with strings attached, such as
nondiscrimination provisions.

17. Block Grants-- Federal grants given more or less automatically to states or communities to
support broad programs in areas such as community development and social services.

18. Formula Grants--A type of categorical grant where states and local governments receive
funds on the basis of a formula.

19. Project Grants--Categorical grants awarded based on competitive applications.

20. Unitary Government--A system where all power resides in the central government.