Federal Government Power – US Government Quiz

The key terms of US government test include, Government, Federal, Power, National, Constitution, Development, System.

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.

federal systems

government systems that divide the powers between the national government and state or provincial governments

federalism

A system in which power is divided between the national and state governments

fiscal federalism

The pattern of spending, taxing, and providing grants in the federal system; it is the cornerstone of the national government’s relations with state and local governments.

full faith and credit clause

Constitution’s requirement that each state accept the public acts, records, and judicial proceedings of every other state

Virginia Plan

“Large state” proposal for the new constitution, calling for proportional representation in both houses of a bicameral Congress. The plan favored larger states and thus prompted smaller states to come back with their own plan for apportioning representation.

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; example of devolution

categorical grants

Federal grants for specific purposes, such as building an airport

commerce clause

The clause in the Constitution (Article I, Section 8, Clause 1) that gives Congress the power to regulate all business activities that cross state lines or affect more than one state or other nations.

concurrent powers

Powers held jointly by the national and state governments.

confederate system

A system consisting of a league of independent states, each having essentially sovereign powers. The central government created by such a league has only limited powers over the states.

cooperative federalism

Cooperation among federal, state, & local governments; “marble cake” federalism

creeping categorization

Block grants become more restricted by rules due to conditions added later by Congress; the tendency for grants to acquire mandates where none had existed previously

delegated powers

Powers specifically given to the federal government by the US Constitution, for example, the authority to print money.

devolution revolution

The effort to slow the growth of the federal government by returning many functions to the states.

dual federalism

A system of government in which both the states and the national government remain supreme within their own spheres, each responsible for some policies. Also called “layer cake federalism.”

elastic clause

Article I, Section 8, of the Constitution, which allows Congress to make all laws that are “necessary and proper” to carry out the powers of the Constitution.

eminent domain

Allows the govt to take property for public use but also requires the govt to provide just compensation for that property