You Cannot Have All the Power
Congress makes laws, the president carries them out, and courts interpret them. That division illustrates this principle.
What is separation of powers?
National and state governments share authority under this system.
What is federalism?
States point to this amendment when defending powers the Constitution did not give the national government.
What is the Tenth Amendment?
Washington tells states they must meet a requirement. That requirement has this name.
What is a mandate?
A national bank, a state tax, and a Supreme Court ruling favoring federal authority: name the case.
What is McCulloch v. Maryland?
The president vetoes a bill Congress passed. One branch is using this principle to limit another.
What are checks and balances?
If a federal power is specifically written in the Constitution, it belongs to this category.
What are enumerated powers?
A shipment crosses state lines. Congress points to this clause as its authority to regulate that trade.
What is the Commerce Clause?
“Use this funding for a broad purpose, and choose many of the details yourselves.” States often favor this kind of grant.
What is a block grant?
Congress defends a law by saying it regulates trade between states. Name the clause it is invoking.
What is the Commerce Clause?
Madison explained how dividing power among branches could curb abuses in this essay.
What is Federalist No. 51?
The Tenth Amendment keeps undelegated powers with the states or the people; state powers in this group have this name.
What are reserved powers?
Congress wants to establish a means of carrying out a listed power. This clause gives it room to do so.
What is the Necessary and Proper Clause?
“Spend this money only within the specified program category.” That describes this kind of grant.
What is a categorical grant?
An advocacy group lobbies its state legislature and Congress. Federalism gives it these several places to seek a policy change.
What are multiple access points?
The House formally accuses a federal official of misconduct through this process.
What is impeachment?
Both Washington and your state can collect taxes. Taxation is this type of shared power.
What is a concurrent power?
A valid federal law conflicts with a state law. This clause generally gives the federal law priority
What is the Supremacy Clause?
This form of national funding gives states almost no restrictions on how to spend it.
What is revenue sharing?
The Constitution lists Congress’s powers but does not list every tool for carrying them out. A power inferred as such a tool is called this.
What is an implied power?
The House has impeached an official. This chamber must convict the official in a trial for removal to follow.
What is the Senate?
Madison described the Constitution as having both national and federal features in this essay.
What is Federalist No. 39?
These two Fourteenth Amendment clauses allow national protection against certain state actions affecting people’s rights.
What are the Due Process and Equal Protection Clauses?
A state wants flexibility to design several education programs. Between a categorical grant and a block grant, it would likely prefer this one.
What is a block grant?
Congress adopts a national policy, yet states still shape how related policies work because both levels hold powers of this type.
What are concurrent powers?