Constitutional Underpinnings

Front

Bicameral legislature

Back

Two-house legislature.

Front

Block grant

Back

Money granted by the federal government to the states for a broad purpose (e.g., transportation) rather than for a narrow purpose (e.g., school lunch program).

Front

Categorical grant

Back

Money granted by the federal government to the states for a narrow purpose (e.g., school lunch program) rather than for a broad purpose (e.g., transportation).

Front

Centralists

Back

Those who favor greater national authority rather than state authority.

Front

Checks and balances

Back

System in which each branch of government can limit the power of the other two branches, e.g., presidential veto of a congressional law.

Front

Commerce clause

Back

Gives Congress the power to regulate commerce among the states, with foreign nations, and among Indian tribes. Granted through Article 1, section 8 of the Constitution.

Front

Concurrent powers

Back

Those held by both Congress and the states, e.g., establishing law enforcement agencies.

Front

Confederation

Back

System in which sovereign states are only loosely tied to a central government, e.g., the US under the Articles of Confederation.

Front

Decentralists

Back

Those who favor greater state authority rather than national authority.

Front

Direct democracy

Back

System in which the people rule themselves.