Constitutional Underpinnings

Bicameral legislature - A legislature with two houses, such as the U.S. Congress with the Senate and the House of Representatives Block grant - Federal money granted to states for broad purposes, allowing states to have more flexibility in how they use the funds Categorical grant - Federal money granted to states for specific and narrow purposes, with strict guidelines on how the funds should be used Centralists - Those who favor greater national authority over state authority, believing in a strong centralized government Checks and balances - A system where each branch of government can limit the power of the other two branches, ensuring no branch becomes too powerful Commerce clause - Congressional power to regulate commerce among states, foreign nations, and Indian tribes, ensuring a unified and fair economic system Concurrent powers - Powers held by both Congress and the states, allowing for shared responsibilities in governing Confederation - A system where sovereign states are loosely tied to a central government, with the states retaining most of the power Decentralists - Those who favor greater state authority over national authority, believing in a decentralized government with more power given to individual states