Definitions
Define Government
An institution in society that has a monopoly on the legitimate use of force.
What are the three different types of powers given to the government?
Enumerated powers - in the Constitution
Implied Powers - implied by the Constitution
Reserved Powers - reserved for the states (10th Amendment).
What are the arguments of the Federalists and Anti-Federalists?
Pro-constitution. The Party of Order. Argued that the Constitution would fix the problems of the Articles of Confederation.
Anti-Constitution. The Party of Liberty. Argued that the Constitution would establish a central government that was too powerful. State's rights would disappear.
What is New Federalism?
The Fourth stage. Return power/discretion back to the States. Started using Block Grants.
Define checks and balances. What is the purpose of it?
Giving each branch of government a share of the others’ power to make sure each branch does not overstep its boundaries.
Define politics
Who gets what, when, and how. Arguments about the legitimacy of issues and values.
What is the McCulloch v. Maryland case?
Maryland was trying to tax the federal bank. Established that Congress cannot be taxed out of business by a state legislature.
What are Factions? What is the solution to the "evils of factions"?
Number of citizens, whether a majority or minority, united by some common impulse of passion or interests adverse to the rights of other citizens or communities.
Solution: pluralism
What is Dual Federalism
The first stage. Most fundamental governmental powers were shared between the federal and state governments, with states exercising the most power.
Define separation of Powers.
a strict separation of legislative, executive, and judicial institutions.
Define Federalism
A guaranteed separation from the Federal and State governments.
What is the NLRB v. Jones and Laughlin
Steel case solidifying?
The right to regulate interstate commerce (trade). Allow the national gov. to regulate as well as promote interstate commerce. Allowing for an expansion of national government power and a blurring of the lines of authority between national and state gov.
What was Federalist #51 about?
The separation of powers and the checks and balances system. The avoidance of tyranny by making all three branches be in the hands of different people.
What is Cooperative Federalism
The second stage. Grants-in-aid were strategically used to encourage states and localities to pursue nationally defined goals.
What check does the executive branch have on the government?
Veto Power
What are public goods? How are collective action and the free-rider problem related?
Examples: paving a road, group project, or toll roads.
What was the court case Gibbons v. Ogden?
Defined who has the right to regulate interstate trade and who regulates intrastate trade. Established that the Federal Government has power over Commerce.
What was the theme of Federalist #10?
Theme was politics. The evils of Factions or majority rule. The solution to the evils of factions is Pluralism.
What is Regulated Federalism
The third stage. Congress imposes legislation on the states and localities requiring them to meet national standards.
What check does the Legislature have on the government?
Veto the veto.
Impeachment (both executive and judicial).
Define Constitutionalism
The doctrine that a government's authority is determined by a body of laws or constitution.
What did the case United States v. Morrison decide?
Restricted the interpretation of what constituted “interstate commerce” to justify federal government involvement in the states.
What is Pluralism?
The theory that all interests should be free to compete for influence in the government. The outcome of this competition is compromise and Moderation
What are the three grants-in-aid? Define them.
Categorical, Project, and Formula.
What check does the Judicial branch have on the government?
Judicial review. Seeing if a law or executive order is constitutional.