American Government-Exam 2-Review
Federalism: Federalism is an institutional principle that limits government power
by dividing decision-making authority VERTICALLY into two levels.
KNOW DEFINITIONS: Expressed powers, implied powers, reserved powers,
supreme powers
- Federal laws always prevail
Federalism has evolved over time.
- Cooperative federalism: involved the development of cooperative
relationships between the national government and state governments in the
form of federally subsidized state and local programs -called “grants-in-aid”
EXAMPLE: Hoover Dam
- Regulated federalism: involves further federal intervention in state decision
making by threatening to withhold federal grants unless states conform to
national standards.
Separation of Powers: an institutional principle that limits the power of the national
government by dividing decision-making authority HORIZONTALLY within the
government- that is, by giving the legislative, executive, and judicial branches
separate powers, functions and constituencies.
Checks and Balances: an institutional mechanism that grants each branch powers
to partially or temporarily obstruct the workings of the other branches. In this way,
checks and balances enable the separation of powers to operate effectively by
making the separation self-enforcing. EXAMPLE: Watergate Scandal
- Over time, the power of Congress has diminished while the power of the
presidency has grown.
DEFINE the Three main institutional features of Congress: Bicameralism,
Egalitarianism, Collective Decision-Making
QUESTION ON EXAM:(Where in the constitution is the congress, ARTICLE 1)
-Congress is BOTH a representative body for local interests and a legislative body
for the country as a whole.
Vote Trading: legislative practice where members of Congress combine their votes
on one motion by trading their votes across motions in the manner of “I’ll support
you on this motion if you support me on that motion.”
Distributive Tendency: This is Congress’s tendency to pass legislation that
distributes the benefits of policy over a wide range of constituencies.
Federalism: Federalism is an institutional principle that limits government power
by dividing decision-making authority VERTICALLY into two levels.
KNOW DEFINITIONS: Expressed powers, implied powers, reserved powers,
supreme powers
- Federal laws always prevail
Federalism has evolved over time.
- Cooperative federalism: involved the development of cooperative
relationships between the national government and state governments in the
form of federally subsidized state and local programs -called “grants-in-aid”
EXAMPLE: Hoover Dam
- Regulated federalism: involves further federal intervention in state decision
making by threatening to withhold federal grants unless states conform to
national standards.
Separation of Powers: an institutional principle that limits the power of the national
government by dividing decision-making authority HORIZONTALLY within the
government- that is, by giving the legislative, executive, and judicial branches
separate powers, functions and constituencies.
Checks and Balances: an institutional mechanism that grants each branch powers
to partially or temporarily obstruct the workings of the other branches. In this way,
checks and balances enable the separation of powers to operate effectively by
making the separation self-enforcing. EXAMPLE: Watergate Scandal
- Over time, the power of Congress has diminished while the power of the
presidency has grown.
DEFINE the Three main institutional features of Congress: Bicameralism,
Egalitarianism, Collective Decision-Making
QUESTION ON EXAM:(Where in the constitution is the congress, ARTICLE 1)
-Congress is BOTH a representative body for local interests and a legislative body
for the country as a whole.
Vote Trading: legislative practice where members of Congress combine their votes
on one motion by trading their votes across motions in the manner of “I’ll support
you on this motion if you support me on that motion.”
Distributive Tendency: This is Congress’s tendency to pass legislation that
distributes the benefits of policy over a wide range of constituencies.
