I went through Chapter 3 and
pulled the bolded/key vocabulary
terms, using the textbook’s
definitions but simplifying them
slightly so they’re easier to study
and fit into a vocab chart.
Chapter 3 — Federalism
Vocabulary
Term Definition Significance
Feder A system Prevents one
alism that divides level of
power government
between from having
the all the power.
national It also
and state creates
governmen ongoing
ts. disputes over
whether the
federal
government
or states
should
control
certain
policies.
Unitar A system Power is
y where the concentrated
Syste central nationally,
m governmen and the
t has central
authority government
over can give or
subnationa take powers
l from local
governmen governments.
ts.
Confe A system Creates a
deral where weak national
Syste subnationa government
m l/state dependent on
governmen the states.
ts have The U.S. had
most of the this system
power. under the
Articles of
Confederatio
n.
Feder A system Allows both
al where levels of
Syste power is government
m divided to have
between constitutionall
the y protected
national powers. The
and state United States
governmen uses this
ts. system.
Enum Powers Establishes
erate specifically clear federal
d/ granted to powers such
Expre the as declaring
ssed national war, coining
Powe governmen money, and
rs t by the regulating
Constitution interstate
. commerce.
Exclu Powers that Keeps certain
sive only the national
Powe national issues, such
rs governmen as foreign
t may policy and
exercise. currency,
under one
government
rather than
individual
states.
Implie Powers not Allows
d specifically Congress to
Powe stated in expand its
rs the authority
Constitution beyond
but powers
considered literally
necessary written in the
to carry out Constitution.
enumerated McCulloch v.
powers. Maryland
supported
this idea.
Due Fourteenth Protects
Proce Amendment individual
ss clause rights from
Claus preventing state
e states from governments
denying a and has been
person life, used to apply
liberty, or many
property constitutional
without liberties to
legal the states.
safeguards
.
Equal Fourteenth Limits
Prote Amendment discrimination
ction clause by state
Claus requiring governments
e states to and is an
apply laws important
equally to constitutional
all people. basis for civil
rights.
Com Gives Has been
merc Congress one of the
e authority to main ways
Claus regulate the federal
e interstate government
business has
and expanded its
commercia power over
l activity. the states.
Nece Gives Creates
ssary Congress Congress's
and authority to implied
Prope pass laws powers and
r needed to allows the
Claus carry out its national
e enumerated government
powers; to adapt to
also called situations not
the Elastic specifically
Clause. mentioned in
the
Constitution.
Supre Establishes When a valid
macy the federal law
Claus Constitution conflicts with
e and valid a state law,
federal laws the federal
as the law generally
highest wins.
law of the
land.
Tenth Reserves Provides an
Amen powers not important
dmen delegated constitutional
t to the basis for
national states' rights
government and
to the federalism.
states or
the people.
Reser Powers not Gives states
ved given to the control over
Powe national many local
rs government matters such
and as elections,
therefore public safety,
retained by and local
the states governments.
and
people.
Conc Powers Allows both
urrent held by levels to
Powe both the perform
rs federal and functions
state such as
governmen taxation,
ts. borrowing
money, and
creating
courts.
Full Requires Helps the
Faith states to states
and recognize function as
Credit the public one country
acts, by requiring
Claus records, recognition of
e and civil things like
court marriages
proceeding and court
s of other judgments
states. across state
lines.
Extra The Prevents
dition requirement people from
that one escaping
state return prosecution
a defendant simply by
to another crossing state
state where borders.
the person
allegedly
committed
a crime.
Privil Prevents Protects
eges states from citizens
and unfairly traveling or
Immu discriminati living across
nities ng against state lines
Claus people and promotes
e from other equal
states. treatment
among
states.
Thirte Constitution Expanded
enth al national
Amen amendment protection of
dmen that individual
t abolished freedom and
slavery. reduced
states' ability
to permit
slavery.
Fourt Makes Greatly
eenth people born increased
Amen in the U.S. federal
dmen citizens and protection of
t prohibits civil rights
states from and liberties
denying against
due actions by
process or state
equal governments.
protection.
Fiftee Prohibits Constitutional
nth denying ly protected
Amen voting rights voting rights
dmen based on for Black men
t race, color, and limited
or state control
previous over voting
condition qualifications.
of
servitude.
Dual A system in Often
Feder which the compared to
alism national a layer cake
and state because
government each level of
s have government
separate, operates
distinct mostly
areas of independentl
authority. y in its own
policy areas.
Selec The Used the
tive process by Fourteenth
Incor which the Amendment
Supreme to prevent
porati Court state
on applies governments
fundamenta from violating
l rights in most Bill of
the Bill of Rights
Rights to protections.
the states,
case by
case.
Coop
erativ
e
Feder
alism
Grant
s-in-A
id
Categ
orical
Grant
s
Mand
ate
Unfun
ded
Mand
ate
Devol
ution
States
generally
prefer block
grants
because they
provide more
flexibility and
less federal
control than
categorical
gHAHAHAHA
HAHAH THis
is
SOOOOOOO
FUNNNNN
rants.
Reve The federal Gives states
nue government maximum
Shari gives tax flexibility
ng money to because they
states with can decide
no strings how to use
attached. the federal
money.
Federal
revenue
sharing
ended in
1986.
A useful way to remember the
major federalism money terms is:
Categorical grant = specific
rules → more federal control
Block grant = broad purpose →
more state control
Revenue sharing = essentially
no strings → most state control
And for constitutional power:
Enumerated = written down →
Implied = inferred → Reserved =
states → Concurrent = both.