Government Powers
This is federalism.
What is the division of power between the federal/national government and the states?
the Constitution/a strong central government/a large republic.
This is the document arguing that the national government should have checks and balances/separations of power/federalism/bicameralism.
What is federalist 51?
By listing things the national government cannot do (take away people's freedom of speech, freedom of religion), it limited the power of the national government.
What is fiscal federalism?
How the national government uses money or mandates to get the states to accomplish government priorities.
Federalism allows different states to have very different laws. What are some examples of differing laws between states?
Marijuana legalization, abortion legalization, minimum drinking age (prior to 1980s), different environmental regulations.
What form of government did the anti-federalist support?
a small republic/weak central government/strong state governments/the Articles of Confederation
-legislative: pass laws/power of the purse (fund government)
-judicial: review laws and actions of Congress to ensure they align with the Constitution
-executive: command the military, enforce laws of Congress
How did the 14th Amendment take away power from the state governments?
It listed things the state government couldn't do: Equal Protection Clause says states must treat citizens equally, Due Process Clause says state governments may not deprive their citizens of their liberties/rights.
What is the difference between a categorical grant and a block grant?
Both are money given by the national governments to the states for projects
-Block gives the states more freedom in how to spend the money
-Categorical gives little freedom to the states on how to spend the money
This is the Amendment that gives states reserved powers (all powers the Constitution doesn't give to Congress).
What is the tenth amendment?
What was the biggest threat to democracy according to Federalist 10/Federalist 51?
Factions (groups of men trying to dominate government/take away people's rights)
These are two checks the legislative branch has on the executive branch.
-impeach the president
-override presidential veto
-Senate can not confirm president's appointees
-not fund president's agenda
How would the state governments bombing a national military base violate the Supremacy Clause?
The Supremacy Clause says the national government is superior to the state governments and states may not interfere with the enumerated powers of the Congress: bombing a military base would interfere with Congress's enumerated power of maintaining an army.
What is the power to lay and collect taxes, the power to regulate interstate commerce, spend for the common defense, mint coins, handle international relations.?
Why did Federalist 10 argue that factions are the biggest threat to a small republic?
It is easier for them to take over a small local government because they would be competing against less factions for domination and they would need to win less seats to take over.
These are two checks the judicial branch has on the other branches.
What is striking down unconstitutional laws and unconstitutional executive (presidential) actions?
How does the Constitution expand the powers of the state governments and the national government?
Tenth amendment expands state powers.
-Article 1, Section 8 (Enumerated powers) and Necessary and Proper Clause (implied powers) expand power of the national government.
Define the necessary and proper clause and give an example of one implied power.
What is the the clause saying "Congress has the implied power to do anything necessary to help them accomplish their enumerated powers." Example Congress has the implied power to open a bank to help them accomplish their enumerated power of taxation.
Name at least two reasons Brutus 1 called for a small republic or argued against a large republic.
-local government were closer to the people and better understood their issues.
-a large central government would destroy people's rights and take away powers from the states
-a large central government would not understand the needs of local people
What are two checks the executive branch can use on the other branches?
-on legislative: veto laws
-on judicial: appoint judges
Define concurrent powers and give an example of a concurrent power
Concurrent powers: powers shared by the states and the national government
-Example: the power to tax, working together to build highways