American Government and Politics Today, Chapter 3: Federalism
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| 664765652 | block grants | Federal programs that provide funds to state and local governments for general functional areas, such as criminal justice or mental-health programs | |
| 664765653 | categorical grants | Federal grants to states or local governments that are for specific programs or projects | |
| 664765654 | commerce clause | The section of the Constitution in which Congress is given the power to regulate trade among the states and with foreign countries | |
| 664765655 | concurrent powers | Powers held jointly by the national and state governments | |
| 664765656 | confederal 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. | |
| 664765657 | cooperative federalism | The theory that the states and the national government should cooperate in solving problems | |
| 664765658 | delegated powers | Powers specifically given to the federal government by the US Constitution | |
| 664765659 | devolution | The transfer of powers from a national or central government to a state or local government. | |
| 664765660 | dual federalism | A system in which the states and the national government each remain supreme within their own spheres, and should not interfere in the other | |
| 664765661 | elastic clause (necessary and proper) | The clause in Article 1, Section 8 that grants Congress the power to do whatever is necessary to execute its specifically delegated powers; also known as the "necessary and proper clause" | |
| 664765662 | enumerated powers | Powers specifically granted to the national government by the Constitution | |
| 664765663 | federal mandate | A requirement in federal legislature that forces states and municipalities to comply with certain rules | |
| 664765664 | implied powers | Powers authorized by the Constitution that are not specifically stated | |
| 664765665 | police power | The authority to legislate for the protection of health, morals, safety, and welfare of the people. In the U.S. most police power is reserved to the states. | |
| 664765666 | supremacy clause | The constitutional provision that makes the constitution and federal laws superior to all conflicting state and local laws. | |
| 664765667 | unitary system | A centralized governmental system in which local or subdivisional governments exercise only those powers given to them by the central government |
