Clauses
What is the privileges and immunities clause?
Prevents a state from treating citizens of other states in a discriminatory manner.
What are Implied powers?
Powers not specifically mentioned in the constitution
What is Federalism?
The division of power across the local, state, and national governments.
What is direct democracy?
A form of democracy in which people decide on policy initiatives directly.
What is the Government?
Government is the governing body of a nation, state, or community.
What is the Executive Powers Clause?
It establishes a unitary presidency with the power to execute the laws of the United States.
What are Police powers?
The power to enforce laws and provide for public safety.
What is Dual federalism?
A system of government in which both the states and the national government remain supreme within their own spheres, each responsible for some policies.
What is a representative democracy?
A type of democracy founded on the principle of elected officials representing a group of people, as opposed to direct democracy.
What are Intergovernmental organizations?
Organizations that seek to coordinate policy across member nations.
What is the Full faith and credit clause?
Constitution's requirement that each state accept the public acts, records, and judicial proceedings of every other state.
What are enumerated powers?
Congress may exercise the powers that the Constitution grants it, subject to the individual rights listed in the Bill of Rights.
What is Picket fence federalism?
A more refined and realistic form of cooperative federalism in which policy makers within a particular policy area work together across the levels of government.
What is participatory democracy?
Emphasizes the broad participation of constituents in the direction and operation of political systems
What is a Confederal government?
A form of government in which states hold power over a limited national government.
What is the National Supremacy Clause?
It establishes that the federal constitution, and federal law generally, take precedence over state laws, and even state constitutions.
What is Sovereign power?
The supreme power of an independent state to regulate its internal affairs without foreign interference.
What is Competitive federalism?
A form of federalism in which states compete to attract businesses and jobs through the policies they adopt.
What is pluralist democracy?
A pluralist democracy describes a political system where there is more than one center of power.
What is a Unitary government?
A system in which the national, centralized government holds ultimate authority. It is the most common form of government in the world.
What is the Necessary and proper clause?
To make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into Execution the [enumerated] Powers, and all other Powers vested by this Constitution in the Government of the United States, or in any Department or Officer thereof.
What are Concurrent powers?
Responsibilities for particular policy areas, such as transportation, that are shared by federal, state, and local governments.
What is Coercive federalism?
A form of federalism in which the federal government pressures the states to change their policies by using regulations, mandates, and conditions.
What is an elitist democracy?
A model of democracy in which a small number of people, usually those who are wealthy and well-educated, influence political decision making.
What is Consent of the governed?
The phrase consent of the governed refers to the idea that a government's legitimacy and moral right to use state power is only justified and lawful when consented to by the people or society over which that political power is exercised.