AP Politics Chapter 3 Vocabulary

1. Federalism—A way of organizing a nation so that two levels of government have formal
authority over the same land and people. It is a system of shared power between units of
government.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. 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.
8. 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.
9. 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.
10. 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.
11. Fiscal Federalism – the pattern of spending, taxing, and providing grants in the federal
system.
12. Formula Grants – a type of categorical grant where states and local governments do not
apply for a grant but are given funds on the basis of a formula.
13. Gibbons v. Ogden – the 1824 Supreme Court case which further expanded Congress’
power to regulate interstate and international commerce by defining it broadly.
14. Intergovernmental relations – the term used to describe the entire set of interactions
among national, state and local governments.
15. McCulloch v. Maryland – the 1819 Supreme Court case which established the supremacy
of the national government over the states included both enumerated and implied powers
of Congress.
16. Privileges and immunities – the Constitution prohibits states from discriminating against
citizens of other states.
17. Project grants – categorical grants awarded on the basis of competitive applications.
18. Tenth Amendment – specifies that powers not delegated to the national government are
reserved for the state government or the people.
19. Unitary government – a system where all power resides in the central government.
20. Dual federalism – where states and the national government each remain supreme within
their own spheres of power, much like a layer cake.